Update to: JAXA’s MMX Is Set to Launch Today at 2:41 p.m. CT
It flew! JAXA’s Martian Moons eXploration mission lifted off on an H3 rocket from Tanegashima on October 19 at 2:41 p.m. CT, and everything went to plan.
How it went
- It was the H3’s 10th flight. The boosters, fairing and stage separation were all nominal.
- The upper stage fired a second time about 64 minutes after liftoff for the trans-Mars burn, reaching about 24,145 mph.
- MMX separated about 71 minutes after launch, to loud cheers in mission control.
What’s next
It arrives at Mars in August 2027 and spends about three years studying Phobos and Deimos. The IDEFIX rover from France and Germany is set to drop onto Phobos in late 2028 or early 2029. After that come two touchdowns to grab samples and bring them back to Earth, a first for Phobos.
Update, Oct 22: Mars Express will be waiting
JAXA says MMX’s critical early operations, including solar array deployment, were done by October 21. ESA’s veteran Mars Express, in orbit since 2003, will be there to welcome it. Its mission is extended to 2029, and the plans include joint observations and imaging of MMX’s landing site. The goal is still about 10 g of Phobos brought home in 2031, with the Idefix rover (named after the dog from Asterix) going down first.
