NASA announced it will host a media teleconference at 4 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, to preview its contributions to JAXA's Martian Moons eXploration mission. The mission is scheduled to launch on Oct. 19 EDT.
Mission Timeline and Objectives
According to NASA, the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft is scheduled to launch from JAXA’s Tanegashima Space Center in Japan on Monday, Oct. 19 EDT, or Tuesday, Oct. 20 JST. The spacecraft will arrive at Mars in August 2027 to survey Phobos and Deimos.
NASA stated that the spacecraft will collect a surface sample no earlier than December 2028 and deliver it to Earth in 2031.
NASA and Partner Contributions
NASA reported that its contributions to the mission include the MEGANE gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer, the spacecraft’s surface sampler mechanism, and communications and navigation support from the agency’s Deep Space Network. The agency is also funding U.S. scientists participating on the MMX science team.
The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory developed the MEGANE instrument, while Blue Origin’s Honeybee Robotics developed the pneumatic sampler mechanism.
Briefing Participants
Participants in the upcoming media briefing include Lindsay Hays, acting director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters; Tom Statler, MMX program executive and scientist; David Lawrence, MEGANE principal investigator at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; and Kris Zacny, vice president of Honeybee Robotics.
Key facts and where they come from
- NASA scheduled a media teleconference for Oct. 15, 2026, to preview its contributions to JAXA's MMX mission.
Media are invited to join NASA for a media teleconference at 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday, Oct. 15, to preview the agency’s contributions
- The MMX mission is scheduled to launch from JAXA’s Tanegashima Space Center in Japan on Monday, Oct. 19 EDT.
The mission is scheduled to launch from JAXA’s Tanegashima Space Center in Japan on Monday, Oct. 19 EDT (Tuesday, Oct. 20 JST).
- NASA's contributions include the MEGANE gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer and a surface sampler mechanism.
NASA’s contributions to the mission include the MEGANE gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer, the spacecraft’s surface sampler mechanism, and communications and navigation support