JAXA Sets October 20, 2026 Launch for Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) Sample Return Mission
On August 20, 2026, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) officially announced the launch schedule for its ambitious Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft. The probe is scheduled to lift off on October 20, 2026, at 4:41:03 a.m. JST (19:41 GMT on October 19) aboard an H3 Launch Vehicle Flight No. 10 (H3 F10) from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Center.
The MMX mission is a world-first attempt to collect rocks and sand from Phobos, the larger of Mars' two moons, and return them to Earth. The 4,480-kilogram spacecraft consists of three modules (propulsion, exploration, and return) and will also carry a French-German rover to land on the moon's surface.
After traveling for about a year to reach Mars, the spacecraft will conduct observations of both Phobos and Deimos before attempting two landings on Phobos to retrieve at least 10 grams of surface material. The samples will be sealed in a return capsule and are scheduled to return to Earth in fiscal 2031, landing in Australia.
The launch was originally scheduled for 2024 but was postponed following the failed maiden flight of H3 rocket No. 1 in 2023.