Veteran ESA probe rolls out welcome mat for Japan’s Phobos mission

Japan’s MMX spacecraft launched on 19 October to explore Phobos, one of Mars’s moons, and return a sample to Earth. ESA’s long-serving Mars Express probe is expected to support MMX when it reaches Mars in 2027, showing how an ageing spacecraft can contribute to new missions.

MMX will deploy the Idefix rover, attempt one or two landings and collect about 10 grams of material for return in 2031. Mars Express has orbited Mars since 2003 and is funded through 2029; another extension may be considered in 2028 or 2029, depending on funding and scientific value. A 2025 software update may help its gyroscopes last until 2034, while the probe could also support the planned Rosalind Franklin rover.