"MMX" launches on 20th aiming to collect samples from Mars satellite - world's first to explore origins and life - JAXA

Early on the 20th, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will launch a probe called ``MMX'' to bring back sand from the Martian moon ``Phobos.'' If successful, the landing on a Martian moon, sample collection, and round trip to Mars would all be world firsts. In addition to scientific results that will help elucidate the origin and history of Mars and its moons, which had oceans and may have had life more than 3 billion years ago, it is also expected to contribute to future manned exploration of Mars.

Sample return, inheritance and development Mr. Tsuda of Hayabusa2 - Launch of space probe MMX

Of the two moons of Mars, Phobos, which orbits the inner planet (approximately 6,000 km), has a diameter of 20 to 30 km. It contains organic matter and water, and its composition is said to be similar to that of the asteroid Ryugu (approximately 900 meters in diameter), from which the Hayabusa2 probe brought back sand.

The origin of the asteroid is unclear, although the ``capture theory'' suggests that the asteroid was captured by Mars' gravity, and the ``impact theory'' suggests that another celestial body collided with proto-Mars, accumulating debris. If the issue can be resolved through close-up observations and sample analysis, it will help elucidate how water and organic matter were supplied to Earth and Mars.

MMX is approximately 5.3 meters high and approximately 9 meters wide when the solar cells are expanded. At launch, it weighed approximately 4.5 tons, making it the largest Japanese space probe in history. It consists of three modules: the ``outbound'' module, which will be responsible for entering Mars orbit, the ``exploration'' module, which will observe Phobos, land on it, and collect samples, and the ``return module,'' which will carry a sample capsule and travel to Earth.

About a year later, it was placed into orbit around Mars and approached Phobos. After determining the scientific value and safe landing locations by conducting detailed observations of the Earth's surface and dropping a small exploration robot jointly developed with France and Germany, the mission will attempt to land and collect samples twice in 2029. It will remain on the surface of Phobos for about two and a half hours, and will use a tube-like device to extract materials from underground.

After completing a series of explorations, it will also carry out close observations of the second satellite, Deimos (11 to 15 kilometers in diameter). It is scheduled to return to Earth in 2031, and like Hayabusa2, the plan is to drop a sample capsule and collect it in the Australian desert.

Yasuhiro Kawakatsu, JAXA's project manager, who is in charge of the project, expressed his expectations at a press conference in September, saying, ``Preparations are progressing in perfect order and we can't wait for the launch.''