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(/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-caret-down)   (https://www.france24.com/technology) Technology     Japan launches mission to explore Mars' moons and bring back samples  Technology   Japan launched a spacecraft on Tuesday on a five-year mission to explore Mars' mysterious moons, Phobos and Deimos, and bring back samples for the first time. The $578 million project aims to deliver dust, soil and rocks to Earth in 2031, potentially shedding light on how the moons formed and the origins of life.   Issued on: 20/10/2026 - 03:29  Modified: 20/10/2026 - 07:21   (Reading time) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-clock)    4 min Reading time   Share (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-share)      By:  (https://www.france24.com/en/author/france-24/) (FRANCE 24) FRANCE 24       (A vehicle assembly building at the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane, in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.)  A vehicle assembly building at the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane, in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, on August 13, 2026.        © Yuichi Yamazaki, AFP    A Japanese (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261008-french-us-and-russian-astronauts-return-to-earth-after-eight-months-in-space) spacecraft rocketed towards Mars on Tuesday on an (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261008-french-us-and-russian-astronauts-return-to-earth-after-eight-months-in-space) unprecedented quest to explore its (https://www.france24.com/en/earth/20260917-nasa-finds-a-once-in-a-century-lunar-crater-bigger-than-the-roman-colosseum) mysterious moons and bring back samples. Five of the world’s (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/space/) space agencies joined forces for the five-year mission that will attempt to land a robotic prospector plus a rover on Phobos, the larger and closer of Mars’ two pint-sized moons. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, which is leading the bold sampling effort, launched the spacecraft before dawn from the country's main spaceport on Tanegashima Island. Officials declared success an hour later when the spacecraft separated as planned from the rocket's upper stage. Flight controllers burst into applause and jumped to their feet, shaking hands and embracing. While NASA has successfully landed nine spacecraft on (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/mars/) Mars over the past 50 years and (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/china/) China scored a 2021 touchdown, no one has ever ventured onto Phobos or its sidekick Deimos. And no one has managed to fetch samples from Mars, let alone its moons. If successful, bits of dust, soil and rocks from Phobos will arrive on Earth in 2031. “There’s a lot of adrenaline and a lot of excitement and a lot of wow,” said (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/nasa/) NASA astrophysicist Tom Statler, who’s involved with the project. Read more (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261008-french-us-and-russian-astronauts-return-to-earth-after-eight-months-in-space) French, US and Russian astronauts return to Earth after eight months in space  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/japan/) Japan has an edge going in, with two asteroid sample returns already under its cosmic belt. Phobos is a lumpy, potato-shaped rock just 14 miles (22 kilometres) or so across. Examining pieces of it can explain how Mars’ moons – and possibly moons elsewhere – came to be. Dubbed MMX for Martian Moons Exploration, the $578 million mission features a hefty 5-tonne spacecraft that should reach Mars by late next summer. It will sync up with Phobos’ tight orbit around the red planet, before ejecting the French-(https://www.france24.com/en/tag/germany/) German rover that’s named Idefix after the white terrier in the Asterix comics. No bigger than a microwave oven, Idefix will plop onto Phobos by itself, bouncing for several minutes before coming to a halt in the moon's extraordinarily low gravity. The four-wheeled rover is designed to right itself if it lands upside down. All bets are off, though, if it sinks into soft soil or gets wedged between rocks, said the French Space Agency’s Julien Baroukh. Once the rover’s solar panels are deployed, the vehicle can no longer right itself, he added, which is why it will move at a glacial 1 millimetre per second (0.04 inches per second). Space: Europe urged to find its path To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-check)    Manage my choices (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-edit)      One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again   (Space: Europe urged to find its path)  Cover image:                    © France 24  (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-play)        11:33   (Space: Europe urged to find its path)     Idefix will serve as a “scout for safety,” according to Baroukh, as it prowls around Phobos for 100 days. Japanese flight controllers want to avoid powdery soil and rough terrain when the mothership – a four-legged stationary lander – descends to the surface to gather samples in late 2028 or 2029. The lander will spend just two hours on Phobos, drilling and vacuuming up at least one-third of an ounce (10 grams) of material, before launching back into space. It will study Deimos during a series of flybys before leaving the Martian neighbourhood in 2030 and hustling back to Earth for a 2031 sample delivery in the (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/australia/) Australian desert. It’s a treacherous undertaking, with wreckage littering the path. Read more (https://www.france24.com/en/earth/20260917-nasa-finds-a-once-in-a-century-lunar-crater-bigger-than-the-roman-colosseum) NASA finds a 'once in a century' lunar crater, bigger than the Roman Colosseum  The moons’ names aren’t exactly comforting: Phobos is Greek for fear and Deimos means dread. They’re the twin sons of the god of war Ares – Mars in Roman mythology. (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/russia/) Russia stumbled in all three of its Phobos attempts as well as many other Mars endeavours. In its only other Mars mission, Japan failed to get a spacecraft into orbit around the red planet. Even NASA has had its share of flops in a bid to answer the burning question: Did life ever exist on Mars? By studying Mars’ moons, scientists hope to learn whether Phobos and Deimos formed in the aftermath of an ancient collision between Mars and a battering space rock. It’s also possible that the moons might be stray asteroids that became ensnared in Mars’ gravity. Read more (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261010-all-human-emotion-french-astronaut-sophie-adenot-first-words-since-returning-earth) 'All human emotions': French astronaut Sophie Adenot returns to Earth  Either way, scientists anticipate finding traces of Mars on Phobos, making the samples an irresistible two-for-one that should help demystify planetary and moon formation, and perhaps even the recipe for life. The findings will help shape future Mars missions – including those by astronauts – said NASA’s acting planetary science director Lindsay Hays. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. We are part of the first sample return mission from the Martian system,” said the German Space Agency's rover chief Markus Grebenstein. Japan isn’t the only one looking to claim the scientific riches packed into the Martian system’s rocks and dirt. China plans to launch a sample return mission to Mars in 2028, while NASA is still debating how to retrieve the more than 30 sample tubes collected by the Perseverance Mars rover, the new champion for off-Earth driving. Japan and China could be neck-and-neck in getting samples back from the Martian system. Both are targeting 2031. Japan is investing $350 million in this mission. NASA is contributing $87 million, the (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/france/) French Space Agency about $68 million, the German Space Agency about $56 million and the European Space Agency some $17 million. (FRANCE 24 with AP)     Read next   (https://www.france24.com/en/technology/20260825-french-astronaut-sophie-adenot-prepares-for-second-iss-mission-spacewalk) (August 25, 2026, frame grab from a NASA live video stream shows NASA astronaut Anil Menon and ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot working during their spacewalk outside the International Space Station.)   (https://www.france24.com/en/technology/20260825-french-astronaut-sophie-adenot-prepares-for-second-iss-mission-spacewalk) (French astronaut Sophie Adenot completes second ISS mission spacewalk) French astronaut Sophie Adenot completes second ISS mission spacewalk    Technology   Includes a video  2 min   (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260401-artemis-ii-launches-historic-flyby-lunar-mission-with-diverse-crew) (NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.)   (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260401-artemis-ii-launches-historic-flyby-lunar-mission-with-diverse-crew) (Artemis II launches historic flyby lunar mission with diverse crew) Artemis II launches historic flyby lunar mission with diverse crew    Americas   Includes a video  2 min         Today's top stories   (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261020-zelensky-accuses-us-of-delaying-missile-deliveries-as-tensions-rise) (Zelensky accuses US of delaying missile deliveries as tensions rise) Zelensky accuses US of delaying missile deliveries as tensions rise   Europe     (20261020-japan-launches-mission-to-explore-mars-moons-and-bring-back-samples.html) (Japan launches mission to explore Mars' moons and bring back samples) Japan launches mission to explore Mars' moons and bring back samples   Technology     (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261019-spain-floods-kill-four-as-torrential-rain-inundates-eastern-regions) (Spain floods kill four as torrential rain inundates eastern regions) Spain floods kill four as torrential rain inundates eastern regions   Europe     (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261019-live-french-pm-lecornu-calls-for-partial-curfews-in-cities-hit-by-riots-and-looting) (France issues curfew for major French cities including Paris, Bordeaux and Nice) France issues curfew for major French cities including Paris, Bordeaux and Nice   France    Includes a video   (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261019-french-pm-says-could-declare-state-of-emergency-over-unrest-if-needed) (French PM Lecornu says ready to declare state of emergency 'if needed') French PM Lecornu says ready to declare state of emergency 'if needed'   France    Includes a video  1 min      Advertising (Report this ad) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-report-ad)           Most read   1 (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261018-live-vance-blames-immigration-for-violence-during-protests-in-france) Macron denounces 'unbridled' violence as France hit by new clashes   As it happened  Europe       2 (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261017-live-france-s-yellow-vests-throw-their-weight-behind-mounting-student-protests) Chaotic scenes as organisers of French protests claim 800,000 have taken to streets   As it happened  France       3 (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261019-live-french-pm-lecornu-calls-for-partial-curfews-in-cities-hit-by-riots-and-looting) France issues curfew for major French cities including Paris, Bordeaux and Nice   As it happened  France    Includes a video     4 (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261017-looters-seize-massive-french-protests-raid-vandalise-shops-france) Looters seize on massive French protests to raid and vandalise shops    France       5 (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261018-like-we-had-a-war-france-left-reeling-after-nationwide-violent-protests) 'Like we had a war': France left reeling after nationwide violent protests    France       6 (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261018-macron-says-nothing-justifies-violence-in-protests-during-address-to-nation) Macron says 'nothing justifies' violence in protests during address to nation    France    Includes a video  8 min       Keywords for this article   (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/space/) (Space) Space  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/japan/) (Japan) Japan  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/tech-1/) (Tech) Tech  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/nasa/) (NASA) NASA  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/mars/) (Mars) Mars       Happening now (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/france/) France  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/french-student-protests/) French student protests  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/education/) education  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/protest/) protest  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/yellow-vest-protests/) 'Yellow Vest' protests    International (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/usa/) USA  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/united-kingdom/) United Kingdom  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/canada/) Canada  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/australia/) Australia  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/germany/) Germany  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/india/) India  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/netherlands/) Netherlands  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/south-africa/) South Africa  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/italy/) Italy      About France 24 (https://www.france24.com/en/about-us) Who are we?  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