MMX begins mission to Martian moons after successful H3 launch

MMX launched successfully on an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center.

The JAXA-led effort has begun its mission to the Martian moons.

The spacecraft flew on an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center on 2026-10-20. The launch was successful.

MMX is aimed at Phobos orbit and has begun a mission to the Martian moons. It is described as the first spacecraft to orbit Phobos, the first to take samples from the Phobos surface, and the first to make a return trip to Earth from the Mars system.

JAXA leads MMX, with NASA, CNES, DLR and ESA participating as partners. The mission is a Mission of Opportunity in ESA's Science Programme.

ESA supplied deep-space communication hardware and ground-station support through the Estrack network. European scientists chosen by ESA take part in the mission science team and pursue research involving observations, data analysis, and study of Phobos samples.

MMX is a JAXA-led mission with NASA, ESA, CNES and DLR participation, and it includes ESA deep-space communication and ground-station support.

Its milestones include first-time Phobos orbit, Phobos surface sampling, and return to Earth from the Mars system.

For lunar-industry readers, the mission shows agency progress in sample return and deep-space operations.

The mission's arrival at Mars is given as next summer. It is to study Phobos and Deimos at close range, and samples from Phobos are to be brought back.