JAXA-Led Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) Mission Set to Launch

The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in collaboration with NASA, ESA, and other agencies, is scheduled to launch on October 19, 2026, at 21:41 CEST (19:41 UTC). This mission aims to be the first to collect a sample from Mars's moon Phobos and return it to Earth. MMX will carry 13 scientific instruments, including NASA's MEGANE instrument, to study the elemental composition of Phobos's surface and help determine its origin.