New Japanese spacecraft aims to explore the mysterious moons of Mars
A new Japanese spacecraft is set to launch in 2024 on a mission to explore the mysterious moons of Mars. The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission will study the moons Phobos and Deimos, and return samples from Phobos to Earth in 2029.
Phobos and Deimos are two small, irregularly shaped moons that orbit Mars. They are thought to have formed from the debris of a massive impact on Mars billions of years ago. Very little is known about the composition or origin of these moons, and they have long been a source of intrigue for scientists.
The MMX mission will carry a suite of instruments to study Phobos and Deimos in detail. The spacecraft will also be equipped with two different mechanisms for collecting material from Phobos: a corer sampler and a pneumatic sampler. The corer sampler will drill into the surface of Phobos and collect subsurface material, while the pneumatic sampler will use pressurized gas to loft material from the surface into the sample container.
The samples collected by MMX will be returned to Earth in a sample return capsule. Scientists will then be able to study the samples in detail using state-of-the-art laboratory equipment. This research could help us to better understand the origin and composition of Phobos and Deimos, and their role in the history of Mars.
The MMX mission is a collaboration between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NASA. The two agencies have been working together for several years to develop the mission and its instruments. The launch of MMX is scheduled for 2024, and the spacecraft is expected to arrive at Mars in 2025.
The MMX mission is a significant step forward in our exploration of the Martian moons. The samples returned by MMX will provide scientists with a wealth of new information about Phobos and Deimos, and could help us to better understand the history of Mars.