"Japan Receives IDEFIX Phobos Rover for Mars Mission"
The IDEFIX rover, named after the dog from "The Adventures of Asterix," is set to accompany the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission to survey and explore Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos. Weighing 25 kilograms and designed to explore up to 100 meters of Phobos' surface, IDEFIX will be released from the MMX spacecraft at a low altitude and utilize Phobos' low gravity to touch down, roll, and raise itself for a three-month mission. Equipped with instruments to study Phobos' origin and sediment details, IDEFIX aims to uncover the moon's history and contribute to a better understanding of the Mars system.