NASA to Support JAXA Mission to Mars' Moons

NASA is contributing to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, which seeks to determine the origin of Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos. The mission is scheduled to launch from JAXA’s Tanegashima Space Center in Japan at 3:41 p.m. EDT on Monday, Oct. 19 (4:41 a.m. JST on Tuesday, Oct. 20).

Mission Objectives and Timeline

The MMX spacecraft aims to characterize the two moons and deliver a sample of Phobos to Earth. According to NASA, the spacecraft will arrive at Mars in August 2027 to begin its survey. It is scheduled to collect a surface sample from Phobos no earlier than December 2028 and deliver it to Earth in 2031.

Scientists have debated whether the moons are remnants of a massive impact on Mars or ancient asteroids captured by the planet's gravity. Tom Statler, MMX program executive and program scientist at NASA Headquarters, stated, "Phobos and Deimos may be the remains of a massive impact on Mars that sent material into orbit around the planet, or they could be ancient asteroids that were captured by Mars’ gravity billions of years ago."

NASA’s Technical Contributions

NASA’s involvement includes providing specific instruments and communication support. The agency is supplying the Mars-moon Exploration with Gamma rays and Neutrons (MEGANE) spectrograph and the Pneumatic Sampler (P-Sampler) technology demonstration. Additionally, NASA is providing communications and navigation support via its Deep Space Network and funding United States scientists on the MMX science team.

The MEGANE instrument, developed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, will measure neutrons and gamma rays emitted from Phobos’ surface to determine its chemical elemental composition. The P-Sampler, developed by Honeybee Robotics, a Blue Origin company, is designed to collect ground samples using bursts of high-pressure nitrogen gas. This complements JAXA’s C-Sampler, which extracts cores from deeper layers.

Sample Curation and Scientific Partnership

A key component of the collaboration is the handling of returned materials. NASA will obtain and curate about 15% of the total returned sample at the agency’s Johnson Space Center Astromaterials Lab in Houston. This material will be available for research for decades.

Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington, emphasized the value of this partnership. "The samples from MMX will bring forth paradigm-shifting science on the Mars system for generations to come, especially as NASA prepares to send the first humans to Mars," said Fox. "The NASA-JAXA sample curation partnership is extremely valuable, and I am proud that NASA Science is supporting MMX sample curation and will be sharing portions of these samples for study as we continue to expand humanity’s understanding of the universe for the benefit of all."

Why it matters

The MMX mission represents a significant step in planetary science by targeting the return of samples from a celestial body other than the Moon or Mars itself. The data and physical samples collected are expected to provide essential clues about the early solar system, including the period when Earth and other inner planets may have acquired water and organic compounds. The collaboration highlights the international nature of modern space exploration, with NASA and JAXA combining resources to address fundamental questions about the origins of planetary systems.

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Sources

• science.nasa.gov: NASA to Help Unlock Mysteries of Mars’ Moons in Upcoming Mission - NASA Science

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