Veteran ESA probe rolls out welcome mat for Japan's Phobos mission
The European Space Agency's Mars Express probe will support Japan's MMX mission to Phobos, which launched on October 19. The aging spacecraft has received another mission extension to facilitate joint observations and data relay for the 2027 arrival.
Why it matters
International cooperation in space exploration allows for extended scientific utility of legacy hardware, maximizing return on investment for space agencies.
Mars Express could support MMX's 2027 arrival as another 'last ever' extension keeps old spacecraft in flight
Japan's mission to the Martian moon Phobos launched this week, with a veteran European probe expected to be waiting when it arrives.
JAXA, Japan's space agency, confirmed that the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft launched aboard an H3 rocket on October 19 at 19:41 UTC – October 20 in Japan. On October 21, it said that initial critical operations, including solar array deployment, were complete. Equipment checks will follow as the spacecraft prepares for its outbound cruise.
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