45 FOMO · ESA
JAXA's MMX set to launch in October to bring the first Phobos sample back to Earth
Original: Mars moon lander set to launch on 19 October
AI Executive Summary
JAXA's Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission is scheduled to launch on an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center at 04:41 JST on 20 October 2026. It aims to be the first mission to collect a sample from Mars's moon Phobos and return it to Earth, with NASA, CNES, DLR and ESA as collaborators.