Mars Moon Exploration Mission Launch Postponed Until 2026

MMX landing illustration in Phobos (photo: dock. JAXA)

JAKARTA The Japan Space Agency (JAXA) has postponed the schedule for the launch of the Martian Moon's eXploration (MMX) mission. The sample collection project from Phobos, the month of Mars, will be postponed to 2026.

JAXA told Spacenews that the MMX launch had to be pushed back because of the H3 rocket. This is not surprising because the rocket failed to reach orbit when tested in March last year.

According to JAXA, the rocket is still not ready for launch in September this year. Therefore, they evaluated the launch and plan to re-test the H3 rocket on February 14.

"Due to the evaluation of the results of the demonstration of the second H3 rocket test vehicle and considering the importance of ensuring sufficient time for the initial verification of MMX in the field, the Japanese rocket launch schedule has been reviewed," JAXA said on Wednesday, January 10.

In fact, JAXA has submitted a schedule change to Japan's Space Development Strategy Headquarters since last year. This plan was also approved in the Revision of the Basic Plan for Space Policy in December.

Shortly after being approved, the MMX team announced that the launch schedule had changed. Although it has been announced, they did not explain in detail the reasons for the government agency to propose a delay in the launch.

MMX is an exploration mission on Mars' two months, namely Phobos and Deimos. The spacecraft, which will be launched into space, will enter Mars orbit, then move to the Quasi Satellite Orbit (QSO) to collect Phobos data.

In addition to collecting data, MMX will land and collect samples from the Phobos surface. This sample will be stored in the plane and the collected materials will be brought to Earth for investigation by JAXA.

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