Sep 17, 2026 · 23 min · 8 segments
The ambitious Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission is expected to launch to Mars on 20th October 2026 and return a sample from the surface of Phobos by 2031. Several years in the making, it is a…
Stefan UlamecGuestAstrotalkUK HostHostNo one then thought that it would take another six decades before a sample was returned from Mars.
The planned launch is scheduled for around October 2026.
It will be a monumental leap in planetary science aiming to return the very first physical samples from the Martian moon Phobos.
That was episode 82, published in January 2019.
He describes the MMX mission and his role as the PI for the Idafex rover, a French-German contribution named after the loyal dog from the Asterix comics.
Dr. Ulamesh explains the bouncing delivery method where the rover is dropped from the main spacecraft at an altitude of 40 to 100 metres, eventually uprighting itself using an elegant and intricate deployment system.
And you can see the deployment simulation online.
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No one then thought that it would take another six decades before a sample was returned from Mars.
The planned launch is scheduled for around October 2026.
It will be a monumental leap in planetary science aiming to return the very first physical samples from the Martian moon Phobos.
That was episode 82, published in January 2019.
He describes the MMX mission and his role as the PI for the Idafex rover, a French-German contribution named after the loyal dog from the Asterix comics.
Dr. Ulamesh explains the bouncing delivery method where the rover is dropped from the main spacecraft at an altitude of 40 to 100 metres, eventually uprighting itself using an elegant and intricate deployment system.
And you can see the deployment simulation online.
