Today 2026 September20 (Sun) 16:12 Etc/GMT-9

2026/10/20 04:41~2026/10/20 04:41

H3-24L • MMX & IDEFIX

A Mitsubishi Heavy Industries H3 rocket will launch the Martian Moon Explorer mission MMX. The mission is designated as H3F10. After spending a year in transit, the MMX spacecraft will enter orbit around Mars, where the exploration module will begin mapping and characterizing the surfaces of Phobos and Deimos using its eight scientific instruments. When the spacecraft makes a close pass to Phobos, between 40 and 100 meters from the surface, it will deploy the IDEFIX rover, which will then spend the next three months studying targets of interest, including sites where the MMX spacecraft will gather samples for analysis on Earth. The launcher will fly as 24L variant with two main engines, four solid strap-on boosters and a long fairing. - The MMX spacecraft consists of three modules: the propulsion, the exploration, and the sample return capsule. The exploration module has landing legs and a suite of instruments (including samplers) and will carry the IDEFIX rover on board. The exploration module and sample return capsule are connected to the propulsion module, where the thrusters and propellant tanks are located. - Delayed from August and September 2024.

📍 Yoshinobu Launch Complex 2 - Tanegashima Space Center, Japan, 〒891-3703 Kagoshima, Kumage District, Minamitane, Kukinaga, 麻津