Like the Hayabusa2 mission,
which explored and returned samples from an asteroid,
#MMX will investigate the Martian moons -- and return a sample from Phobos to Earth.

The mission is scheduled for launch in JFY 2026, followed by an approximately five year journey for the round-trip to the Martian sphere and exploration of the system.

MMX aims to collect more than 10g of material from Phobos, making this the world's first sample return mission from the Mars region.

https://www.mmx.jaxa.jp/en/mission/

I have a small stack of #MMX stickers.

And I'm in a room full of laptops whose owners are getting a cup of coffee.

Is it my duty — nay, OBLIGATION — to bring those two together?

Artist's view of the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission during MOI (Martian Orbit Insertion)

ℹ️ https://www.mmx.jaxa.jp/en/
📷 https://jda.jaxa.jp/result.php?lang=e&id=9589ec3981b6993ca20f4c7b7d6a55f4

Credit: JAXA

#Mars #MMX #Phobos #Deimos #JAXA #RedPlanet #space #spacecraft #astrodon #science #art #spaceart

My favourite instrument onboard the #MMX Martian moons mission is… IREM.

Not only will IREM measure the radiation environment around Phobos and Deimos for the safely of a future human crew, but the team were the only Japan group to respond to my request for a quick outreach Q&A.

And we’re Japan-led 🤨😅