MMX – Martian Moons eXploration

Exploring the martian moons Phobos and Deimos

The two moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, are the target of the Japanese exploration mission Martian Moons eXploration, or MMX for short. The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) and the French space agency CNES (Centre national d'études spatiales) are contributing the lander IDEFIX that will spend several weeks exploring the surface of Phobos.

How did the moons form and what they are made of? This is the mystery that the international team of scientists wants to solve. Several US missions and the European Mars Express mission, launched in 2003, have already provided data and images from Mars orbit that have helped to observe the moons. However, there was no successful attempt to land on Phobos or Deimos to date. Little is known about their geological, mineralogical and geochemical properties.

The Japanese space agency JAXA's MMX space probe aims to change this: it will study the two martian moons in detail from orbit and collect material samples from Phobos for the first time during a short landing manoeuvre. Several grams of rock and regolith will be returned to Earth with the Return Module towards the end of the exploration for further scientific analysis. It will also carry the MMX rover from DLR and CNES and set it down on Phobos. The expected findings should help us to better understand the formation of the martian moons and the planets in the Solar System. The ambitious project is expected to be launched from the Japanese spaceport Tanegashima in 2026.

Europe's contribution to the mission – the MMX rover IDEFIX

The MMX rover will fulfil several tasks on Phobos: Firstly, it will provide important findings in preparation for the landing of the mother craft. Secondly, it will analyse the surface composition and texture at selected locations.

DLR and the French space agency CNES are working closely together on the design and construction of the rover. Eight DLR institutes from five locations are contributing to the rover: The Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics is responsible for the overall project management and – together with the Institute of Space Systems – for systems engineering. In addition, the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics developed a navigation pipeline to navigate the rover autonomously on the moon's surface.

Video: Testing, assembly and preparation of the Franco-German rover IDEFIX for the MMX mission
The final work and tests for the completion of the IDEFIX rover are currently underway at the CNES site in Toulouse. Over the last few months, the final integration of all instruments and subsystems has taken place there. Previously, DLR had already integrated the carbon-fibre-reinforced structure of the rover, including the uprighting and propulsion system, at their Bremen site and delivered it to CNES in Toulouse in November 2022. IDEFIX is to land on the Martian moon Phobos as part of the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission and explore it while moving – despite extremely low gravity. The Japanese MMX mission targets both moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos. The MMX probe will explore both moons and eventually collect samples from Phobos and send them to Earth.

Video: Testing, assembly and preparation of the Franco-German rover IDEFIX for the MMX mission

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Video: Testing, assembly and preparation of the Franco-German rover IDEFIX for the MMX mission
The final work and tests for the completion of the IDEFIX rover are currently underway at the CNES site in Toulouse. Over the last few months, the final integration of all instruments and subsystems has taken place there. Previously, DLR had already integrated the carbon-fibre-reinforced structure of the rover, including the uprighting and propulsion system, at their Bremen site and delivered it to CNES in Toulouse in November 2022. IDEFIX is to land on the Martian moon Phobos as part of the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission and explore it while moving – despite extremely low gravity. The Japanese MMX mission targets both moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos. The MMX probe will explore both moons and eventually collect samples from Phobos and send them to Earth.
Credit:

CNES/DLR/JAXA (ASTERIX® OBELIX® IDEFIX® © Année LES EDITIONS ALBERT RENE / GOSCINNY-UDERZO)

The carbon structure was developed by the DLR Institute of Lightweight Systems. The DLR Institute of System Dynamics and Control developed extensive simulations of the condition of the Phobos surface and the safe locomotion of the rover. DLR's rover component was integrated and tested under realistic conditions at the Institute of Space Systems in Bremen. The DLR Institute of Planetary Research contributed the miniRAD radiometer and the DLR Institute of Optical Sensor Systems the RAX Raman spectrometer. The DLR Microgravity User Support Center (MUSC) in Cologne, together with the Université Côte d'Azur (France), is the scientific lead for the rover and is responsible for payload management.

CNES is making significant contributions with camera systems for spatial orientation and exploration on the surface as well as for the investigation of mechanical ground properties. CNES is also developing the rover's central service module, including the on-board computer and the power and communication system. Final integration and testing of the rover will take place at CNES in Toulouse. After the launch of the MMX mission, the rover will be operated by control centres at DLR‘s MUSC in Cologne and CNES in Toulouse (France).

Mission timeline

MMX is expected to lift off from Tanegashima Space Center in 2026 on board an H-3 launch vehicle. After approximately one year of flight, MMX will reach Mars and enter its orbit. Then the exploration module's eight scientific instruments will begin mapping and characterising the surfaces of Phobos and Deimos.

The rover is expected to land on Phobos in early 2029. The rover will descend from a height of 40 to 100 metres above the surface and after landing – and presumably a few small bounces – it will upright itself and be ready for use. The measurement phase will then begin. During these three months, the rover will approach various targets that are of interest for scientific analysis.

At the end of the mission, the mother craft will collect soil samples, taking into account the knowledge gained by the rover. These will be brought back to Earth with the return module. They are expected to arrive in 2031 for further analysis in terrestrial laboratories. The Japanese space agency JAXA is ideally suited for such a demanding task: in 2020, the Hayabusa2 mission succeeded in bringing material from the asteroid Ryugu back to Earth. DLR and CNES were also involved in Hayabusa2 with the MASCOT lander.

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MMX rover ready to be de­liv­ered
The lightweight carbon structure including the uprighting and locomotion system of the MMX rover are ready for transport.
Image: 1/3, Credit:
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Mars' moon Pho­bos
With a di­am­e­ter of 27 kilo­me­ters, Pho­bos is the larg­er of Mars' two moons. A Fran­co-Ger­man rover will land on Pho­bos in 2027 as part of the Japanese MMX mis­sion.
Image: 2/3, Credit:

ESA/DLR/FU Berlin

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German Chancellor Scholz and the French President Macron with the MMX rover
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron presented themselves with the MMX-Rover on 22 January 2023.
Image: 3/3, Credit:

Présidence de la République

Background articles

Facts and figures

The Japanese Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission will explore how the two martian moons, Phobos and Deimos, formed, and improve our understanding of the formation of the planets in our Solar System in general. The primary focus of the mission is to better understand the processes behind the development of the martian system. DLR is making a significant contribution to the mission in collaboration with the French space agency, CNES.

The aim – Phobos and Deimos

In order to clarify the question of the origin of Phobos and Deimos, the MMX mission of the Japanese Space Agency will be the third JAXA mission to take samples and bring them back to Earth. DLR is involved here with a rover and two instruments.

The German rover control centre

The operation of landing units on planetary surfaces is a particularly challenging aspect of space exploration. DLR's Microgravity User Support Center has unique experience in this field in Europe.

The radiometer miniRAD

The radiometer miniRAD developed by DLR will measure the surface radiation of the martian moon Phobos in order to determine the surface temperature and the thermophysical properties of the surface. In addition, indications of the mineralogical composition of the surface material will be obtained.

The Raman spectrometer RAX

The Raman spectrometer for MMX (RAX) is only the third Raman instrument to make its way to an extraterrestrial destination. The DLR Institute of Optical Sensor Systems is leading both the scientific team and the development.

The chassis and connecting structure of the IDEFIX rover

In addition to the MMX rover 'IDEFIX' with the chassis structure, there is also the Mechanical-Electrical-Communication and Separation System (MECSS). Both structures were developed and constructed at the DLR Institute of Lightweight Systems.

The mechatronic running gear for the first journey in milligravity

The locomotion system for the MMX rover is being developed, built and tested by the DLR Institutes of Robotics and Mechatronics and System Dynamics and Control. The MMX rover will be the first robot to move in such low gravity.

Intelligent wheels – safe locomotion on unknown terrain

DLR has developed wheels for the MMX rover that allow for optimal traction while being extremely light and yet very stable.

LOCO – the software for the MMX rover locomotion system

The locomotion system software (LOCO) can be used to determine the desired paths and speeds of the MMX rover. In addition, the software developed by the DLR Institute of System Dynamics and Control is responsible for monitoring the rover's locomotion system.

The electronic components of the mechatronic running gear

A central component in the MMX rover's mechatronic running gear is the electronics box developed by the DLR Robotics and Mechatronics Center. It contains the analogue and digital circuits required to operate the rover.

Simulation – Realistically recreating the conditions on Phobos

DLR has developed detailed simulation models of the MMX rover. This allows critical phases to be checked and software to be tested in a virtual environment.

Quality and product assurance for the chassis of the MMX-Rover

The MMX rover's mechatronic landing gear is a completely new development. For this reason, quality and product assurance must prove that the landing gear will work on the Martian moon Phobos.

Participating DLR institutes and facilities

Institute of Optical Sensor Systems

The Institute of Optical Sensor Systems investigates and develops active and passive optical sensor systems for satellites, flying platforms and robotic systems.

Institute of Planetary Research

Among other things, the Institute of Planetary Research deals with the exploration of the Solar System.

Institute of Space Systems

The Institute of Space Systems analyses and evaluates complex space systems from a technical, economic and socio-political perspective.

Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics

The Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics develops a wide array of robots to enable humans to interact more safely and efficiently with their surrounding environments.

Institute for Software Technology

The mission of the Institute for Software Technology is research and development in software engineering technologies, and the incorporation of these technologies into DLR software projects.

Institute of System Dynamics and Control

The main focus of the Institute of System Dynamics and Control is the requirement driven, system dynamically holistic design, optimal feedforward and robust feedback control of complex safety critical systems for spaceflight systems, aircraft, road, railway and planetary vehicles, as well as industrial robots.

Institute of Lightweight Systems

The DLR Institute of Lightweight Systems has the know-how for the design and realisation of adaptable, efficient composite structures and lightweight systems.

Space Operations and Astronaut Training

DLR Space Operations is the central institution for spaceflight operations in Germany. This responsibility includes satellite missions for Earth observation, science and communication missions as well as the exploration of the Solar System and human spaceflight missions.

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Contact

Falk Dambowsky

Head of Media Relations, Editor
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Corporate Communications
Linder Höhe, 51147 Cologne
Tel: +49 2203 601-3959

Markus Grebenstein

Deputy Director
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics
Münchener Straße 20, 82234 Oberpfaffenhofen-Weßling

Michael Müller

Editor
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Corporate Communications
Linder Höhe, 51147 Cologne
Tel: +49 2203 601-3717

Stephan Ulamec

MMX rover scientific manager
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Space Operations and Astronaut Training
Microgravity User Support Center (MUSC)
Münchener Straße 20, 82234 Weßling