"Japan's Mars Moon Sample-Return Mission to Include Rover Companion"

A small European-built rover named IDEFIX has arrived in Japan to be part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Martian Moon Exploration (MMX) probe, which aims to collect samples of Mars' moon, Phobos. The rover, developed by the German Aerospace Center and the French space agency, will play a crucial role in gathering information and preparing for the landing of the main spacecraft, which is scheduled to grab Phobos' material in 2029 and send it towards Earth for arrival in 2031. The mission was originally set to launch in 2024 but has been delayed to the next Mars launch window in 2026 due to concerns over the readiness of the new Japanese H3 rocket.