Chris Picton MP
Minister for Defence & Space Industries
South Australia will play a critical role in one of the most ambitious international space missions ever attempted, with samples from a moon of Mars expected to return to Earth in SA in 2031.
Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission successfully launched today, marking the beginning of a five-year journey to explore the Martian moons – Phobos and Deimos.
The ambitious mission will attempt to collect samples from the surface of Phobos for the first time and bring them back to Earth.
The return capsule, carrying samples collected from Phobos, is expected to land at Woomera, where the material will be retrieved for further scientific investigation.
Led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the mission brings together international space partners, including the United States, France, Germany and the European Space Agency.
This mission will help scientists understand more about our Solar System and could provide scientists valuable insights to support future exploration of Mars.
The planned return to South Australia presents an opportunity to showcase the state’s expertise in space operations, spacecraft recovery and scientific research, while strengthening Australia’s position as a trusted partner in the space sector.
Quotes attributable to Chris Picton
South Australia is proud to be part of this extraordinary space mission.
Having samples from a moon of Mars return to Earth through outback SA demonstrates our state’s growing role and importance in international space endeavours.
By contributing to missions of this scale, we can strengthen our space capabilities, create opportunities for Australian researchers and industry, and help inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
—
Image: Rollout of H3 Launch Vehicle Flight No. 10 (H3 F10) with the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft aboard, courtesy of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
