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Mmx Mission

All articles tagged with #mmx mission

Lost Photos Hint Phobos Could Be a Captured Comet

New research based on previously unpublished photos suggests that Mars' moon Phobos may be a captured comet, or part of one, rather than an asteroid or a fragment from a giant impact. The study, which analyzed photometric properties of Phobos, found similarities with Jupiter-family comets, indicating that Phobos and its twin moon Deimos might have once been a single bilobed comet. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's upcoming MMX mission aims to further investigate these findings by sampling Phobos directly.

via Livescience.com|

#astronomy #comet #mars

space1 year ago•2 min saved

"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.

via Space.com|

#jaxa #mars #mmx-mission

space-exploration1 year ago•6 min saved

"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.

via NASASpaceflight.com|

#idefix-rover #jaxa #mars