JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, has finally launched its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission. The launch occurred at 04:41:03 JST on October 20, 2026 from the Tanegashima Space Center, Japan's primary spaceport. 17 minutes after lift-off, MMX separated from its launch vehicle and began its journey to Mars and Phobos, the largest of the planet's two moons.

MMX will reach Mars in August 2027 and enter an orbit around the planet. After about one month, it will transfer to an orbit around Phobos. MMX consists of the main orbiter and a small lander named Idefix , developed by Germany and France. The mission will place Idefix on the surface of Phobos, where it will perform science operations and help find a suitable landing for the main part of the MMX mission: sample collection.

Idefix will simply be dropped onto the surface of Phobos from between 40 and 100 meters above. The small moon's gravity is so weak that the rover won't be damaged.…