Your Daily Space Exploration Briefing

JAXA Prepares for Historic Phobos Sample Return Mission

• The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is set to launch its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission on October 19, 2026, from the Tanegashima Space Center. This mission aims to be the first to collect a sample from Mars's moon Phobos and return it to Earth, offering new data on its formation and the Martian system's evolution. MMX will also uniquely orbit Phobos in a "quasi-satellite orbit".

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• The SpaceX CRS-35 cargo mission successfully launched on October 13, delivering over 6,300 pounds of supplies and the final ISS Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs). This completes a power modernization program, projected to boost the station's power generation by 20% to 30%. The pre-dawn launch also created a stunning "jellyfish cloud" visible across the US East Coast, formed by crystallizing fuel exhaust reflecting sunlight.

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• NASA's Perseverance Mars rover recently achieved an off-world record for total distance driven on Mars. This milestone underscores its sustained success in gathering critical data for future human missions.

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