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JAXA’s MMX mission targeting Oct. 20, 2026, launch to collect and return a sample from Phobos

The Martian Moons eXploration mission is scheduled to launch aboard an H3 rocket from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center at 04:41 JST on Oct. 20, 2026. MMX is designed to collect material from Mars’ moon Phobos and return it to Earth, a first for a mission to a Martian moon.

Discovered 2026-10-13T08:55:02.306557-07:00 | 2026-10-13T08:55:02.306557-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

MMX would be the first mission to collect a sample from Phobos and return it to Earth, making the mission a significant step in planetary exploration.
The planned launch on Japan’s H3 rocket puts the vehicle on the schedule for a high-profile science mission from Tanegashima in October 2026.

Reported By

jatan.space dailygalaxy.com raumfahrer.net heise.de Universe Today