Exploring the Interior of Phobos
The origins of Phobos, one of Mars' small moons, remain a central question in planetary science. Determining how this celestial body formed depends heavily on the ability to decode its internal structure. Researchers believe that understanding the moon's interior is the key to distinguishing whether Phobos is a captured asteroid or the result of a massive collision event.
To address these questions, Japan is developing the Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission. This project is designed to probe the physical properties of the moon to reconstruct the early history of the Martian system.
Mission Timeline and Objectives
The MMX mission is currently scheduled for launch in late 2026. The spacecraft will focus on gathering critical data that goes beyond surface imaging, seeking to provide a comprehensive view of the moon's internal makeup.
- Investigation of Phobos' internal composition
- Determination of the moon's evolutionary origin
- Scheduled launch for late 2026