The MMX probe is heading for Mars and its moons! The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has announced that the Martian Moons eXploration mission is set to launch on 19 October 2026. The launch is scheduled for 9.41 pm (Paris time) from Tanegashima, Japan, aboard an H3 rocket.
French experts involved in the mission will be reporting live from the Cité de l’Espace in Toulouse (France) to analyse the mission ahead of the launch. This round-table discussion, which begins at 8.45 pm (Paris time), will be streamed live on our YouTube channel in the run-up to the launch.
Watch the MMX launch live
H3 flight sequence: how will the flight go?
Shedding light on the history of the Martian system
The MMX mission aims to explore the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos. In particular, it will analyse their composition, gain a better understanding of their origin, and return samples from Phobos to Earth. These observations will shed light on the history of the Martian system and, more broadly, on the formation of planets. An analysis of the Martian atmosphere is also planned in order to characterise the weather patterns and the processes at work there.
France heavily involved
France, and through it CNES, is heavily involved in this exploration mission. The French contribution to the MMX mission comprises three parts:
- The MIRS instrument, an imaging spectrometer developed and operated by CNES and LIRA (Laboratory for Instrumentation and Research in Astrophysics), with contributions from other French laboratories,
- The Idefix® rover, designed and built by CNES in collaboration with DLR,
- Cooperation between JAXA and CNES space mechanics teams, particularly regarding the design of the probe’s trajectories.
