The expedition, departing today, Monday, October 19, at 21:41 Peninsular time, is a multi-year endeavor aiming to study Mars's two small moons and retrieve materials from Phobos's surface for analysis in terrestrial laboratories. Spain's involvement includes the General Sub-directorate of Space Systems of INTA and the Center for Astrobiology (CAB), part of the CSIC, and the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA), contributing specialized components for the rover that will explore Phobos.
The origin of Phobos and Deimos, which have orbited Mars for billions of years, remains an enigma. The MMX mission could definitively resolve whether they are captured asteroids or formed from debris ejected after a massive impact on the red planet. Furthermore, it will provide insights into the processes that shaped the early Solar System and Mars itself, offering a valuable window into the red planet's geological past without needing to land on its surface.
The spacecraft will enter orbit around Mars, conduct detailed studies of Phobos and Deimos, and perform several controlled descents onto Phobos's surface to deploy an exploration rover and a sample collection module for return to Earth. The return is scheduled for early the next decade, when the world's most advanced laboratories can analyze materials that have remained unaltered for billions of years.
Spain's technological contribution includes the RAX (Raman Spectrometer for MMX) instrument, installed on the IDEFIX rover (developed by CNES and DLR). The RAX's laser unit, featuring a redundant, miniaturized, and high-performance design, will enable in-situ identification of minerals and chemical compounds on Phobos's surface, providing fundamental clues about its origin and evolution, according to Olga Prieto-Ballesteros, a researcher at CAB and co-lead scientist for the instrument.
The participation of CAB-CSIC-INTA in MMX adds to a long history of Spanish contributions to international planetary exploration, reinforcing Spain's role in significant scientific programs dedicated to studying Mars (Curiosity, Perseverance, Rosalind Franklin) and other Solar System bodies.
