Tech

How Do You Land on a Moon With Almost No Gravity?

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 06/11/2026, 15:13:24 UTC.

Briefings

The MMX mission successfully launched on October 20, 2026, from Japan's Tanegashima spaceport to explore Phobos, a small Martian moon with 1/1,800th of Earth's gravity. The spacecraft will orbit Mars in a quasi-satellite path to study Phobos, which is a rubble pile roughly 27 kilometers long. The mission aims to land a 10-gram sample on Phobos in the second half of 2031, though landing on Phobos is described as difficult due to its low-gravity environment. The mission faces significant challenges including navigating complex orbits around Phobos and landing on its surface while Mars periodically blocks communications with Earth.

Key points

• The MMX mission successfully launched on October 20, 2026, from Japan's Tanegashima spaceport using an H3 rocket.
• Phobos is a rubble pile approximately 27 kilometers long with only 1/1,800th of Earth's gravity, making landing extremely difficult.

Context

The MMX mission seeks to explore Phobos, one of two small Martian moons, using an unprecedented series of landings on the unknown surface. The mission involves designing an orbit to study a microgravity moon orbiting a much larger planet, with the spacecraft orbiting Mars alongside the moon in a quasi-satellite path.

Limitations

The provided evidence is limited to mission timeline, spacecraft specifications, and mission goals. It does not include data on Phobos's geological history, surface composition, or the specific outcomes of the landing attempts. The mission's success and scientific findings remain uncertain.

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