Mars Exploration   Space Exploration & Science Missions  

Japan unveils MMX spacecraft ahead of Oct. 19 Phobos sample-return launch

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Japan has revealed the spacecraft for its Martian Moons eXploration mission, scheduled to launch Oct. 19. MMX will travel to Mars’ moon Phobos, collect surface material and return the samples to Earth, providing a closer look at one of the Red Planet’s enigmatic satellites.

Discovered 2026-08-21T11:05:19.742312-07:00 | 2026-08-21T11:05:19.742312-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • MMX is designed to retrieve material from Phobos and bring it back to Earth, making the mission a significant sample-return effort focused on the Mars system.
  • The Oct. 19 launch date establishes a near-term milestone for Japan’s planetary-exploration program and the spacecraft’s mission readiness.

Reported By

Space.com
Sources Tracked
1
First Seen
2026-08-21T11:05:19.742312-07:00
Latest Update
2026-08-21T11:05:19.742312-07:00
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Space

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