Tag

Phobos

All articles tagged with #phobos

space20 days ago•4 min saved

Phobos: Crater Clues May Decode a Martian Moon's Birth

Researchers at the EGU meeting modeled how small changes in Phobos’ geophysical signals around the 9‑km Stickney crater could help determine its interior and origin, weighing whether Phobos formed from debris after a giant Mars impact (~4.2 billion years ago) or was captured as an asteroid (~2.6 billion years ago). Current data suggest a porous interior with possible water ice and a localized denser mass near the equator, making gravity mapping and libration measurements key tests. The upcoming Japanese MMX mission (late 2026 launch) aims to orbit Phobos, collect surface samples with a core sampler and a NASA-provided pneumatic sampler, and return them to Earth by mid‑2031, which should help constrain Phobos’ formation scenario by linking interior structure, gravity, and composition.

via Universe Today|

#gravity-field #interior-structure #mmx-mission

space1 month ago•12 min saved

The New Space Race: Bringing Home Untouched Mars, Phobos, and Asteroid Samples

NASA’s Mars Sample Return architecture has effectively been unwound in favor of a Mars Future Missions technology line, shifting the race for pristine samples to China and Japan with campaigns targeting Mars, the Martian moon Phobos, and the near-Earth asteroid Kamo'oalewa. Perseverance has collected roughly 30 sealed samples but there is currently no funded retrieval mission in the U.S. pipeline. Looking ahead, China’s Tianwen-2 aims for Kamo'oalewa with a 2026–27 rendezvous and a 2027 return, Japan’s MMX targets Phobos samples for around 2031, and China’s Tianwen-3 aims to return Martian material around 2030–31; if Tianwen-3 succeeds, China would deliver the first Martian samples, though the Jezero collection remains scientifically richer and presently unfunded for retrieval under U.S. policy.

via Space Daily|

#kamooalewa #mars-sample-return #mmx

astronomy2 months ago•4 min saved

Phobos May Shatter Earlier Than Expected in Violent Tidal Breakup

New research suggests Mars’s inner moon Phobos could break apart much sooner than the Roche limit due to its rubble-pile makeup and increasing tidal distortion. Initial surface shedding is predicted around 2.25 Mars radii, with larger fragmentation at about 2.15–2.13 RM, and instability near ~2.09 RM that could trigger breakup. Debris from these events may re-impinge on Phobos, accelerating destruction in a scenario called a sesquinary catastrophe. The MMX mission, launching in 2026, will study Phobos’s interior to refine these timelines.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#astronomy #mars #phobos

science2 months ago•3 min saved

Phobos Could Become Mars's Rings Sooner Than Thought

Two independent analyses indicate Phobos, a weak, rubble‑pile moon, could shed surface material and be torn apart into rings long before crossing Mars’s Roche limit, via staged mass‑loss events around 2.25–2.09 Mars radii and possibly a sesquinary catastrophe; the MMX mission (launch 2026) will study its interior to better determine its fate.

via BBC Sky at Night Magazine|

#mars #phobos #ring-formation

space-exploration2 months ago•73 min saved

Japanese MMX Moves to Launch Pad for Phobos Sample-Return Mission

Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) has reached Tanegashima for a late-2026 launch on the H3 rocket. The mission will collect about 10 grams from Phobos and return the samples to Earth in 2031, aided by the IDEFIX rover to scout a landing site. MMX aims to help determine whether Phobos and Deimos are captured asteroids or Mars ejecta, offering insights into Mars’ history and the inner solar system; after delays tied to H3 issues, the project targets a Mars-orbit phase in 2027 and a Phobos landing in 2029.

via Space|

#h3-rocket #mmx #phobos

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Mars's Moons: Do They Exist?

Mars has two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, whose origins are still debated; they may be captured asteroids or formed from debris after a collision with Mars. Upcoming JAXA missions aim to analyze samples from Phobos to better understand their formation and possibly early Mars conditions.

via Live Science|

#deimos #mars #moons

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Mars' Moons: Born from Asteroid Destruction?

New computer simulations suggest that Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos, may have formed from debris when a large asteroid was torn apart by Mars' gravity. This model explains their circular orbits and differing distances from Mars, challenging previous theories of their origin. The hypothesis will be tested by the upcoming Martian Moons eXploration mission, which aims to return samples from Phobos to Earth for analysis.

via Space.com|

#asteroid #deimos #mars

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Asteroid Impact Theory Sheds Light on Mars' Moons Origins

A new study by NASA scientists using supercomputer simulations suggests that Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos, may have formed from the debris of a disrupted asteroid that passed too close to Mars. This theory, which differs from previous hypotheses, accounts for the moons' unique shapes and Deimos' large orbital radius. The study's findings could be further explored by the upcoming Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission, which aims to collect samples from Phobos and Deimos to better understand their origins.

via NASASpaceflight.com|

#asteroids #deimos #mars

space-exploration2 years ago•2 min saved

"Phobos: The Enigmatic Moon of Mars"

Mars' moon Phobos, despite its small size and unclear origins, captivates scientists and enthusiasts alike. High-resolution images from ESA's Mars Express Orbiter have provided detailed views of Phobos, including its largest crater, Stickney, and surface grooves. These images have advanced our understanding but haven't resolved all mysteries. The upcoming JAXA MMX mission, set to launch in 2026, aims to further explore Phobos and Deimos, potentially returning samples by 2031 to shed light on their origins.

via Universe Today|

#esa #jaxa #mars

space-and-astronomy2 years ago•3 min saved

"New Insights Challenge Previous Beliefs About Mars's Moon Phobos"

Researchers analyzing unpublished photos of Mars's moon Phobos have found that its properties resemble those of comets, suggesting it might be a bilobated or binary comet. This challenges existing theories about its origin, which include formation from a debris disk or capture of an asteroid. The upcoming JAXA Martian Moons eXploration mission aims to return samples from Phobos, potentially providing more definitive answers.

via IFLScience|

#comets #jaxa #mars

space-exploration2 years ago•1 min saved

Scientists Challenge Assumptions About Mars' Moon

Scientists from France and Germany propose that Mars' moon Phobos may have originated from a comet, challenging previous theories about its formation. This hypothesis is based on data from the Mars Express spacecraft, which shows Phobos has properties similar to comets. The upcoming Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission by Japan aims to study Phobos and Deimos further, potentially uncovering their true origins.

via Futurism|

#astronomy #comet #deimos

space-exploration2 years ago•4 min saved

Lost Photos Hint Phobos Could Be a Captured Comet

New research based on previously unpublished photos suggests that Mars' moon Phobos may be a captured comet, or part of one, rather than an asteroid or a fragment from a giant impact. The study, which analyzed photometric properties of Phobos, found similarities with Jupiter-family comets, indicating that Phobos and its twin moon Deimos might have once been a single bilobed comet. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's upcoming MMX mission aims to further investigate these findings by sampling Phobos directly.

via Livescience.com|

#astronomy #comet #mars

astronomy2 years ago•4 min saved

"Rare Glimpse: Mars' View of Total Solar Eclipse 2024"

NASA shared timelapse photos of Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos, transiting the sun in preparation for today's North American total solar eclipse. The Perseverance rover captured images of Phobos passing in front of the sun, while Deimos had its own transit in January. These events provide insight into the moons' orbits and the eventual collision of Phobos with Mars. The visuals offer a glimpse of what a solar eclipse looks like from the perspective of the Red Planet.

via USA TODAY|

#astronomy #mars #nasa

space2 years ago•3 min saved

"Stunning Views: Mars Spacecraft Captures Volcanoes, Noctis Labyrinthus, and Phobos Photobomb"

The European Space Agency's Mars Express Orbiter captured a detailed image of Mars, revealing giant volcanoes, valleys, craters, clouds, and the moon Phobos. The image showcases Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system, along with three other colossal shield volcanoes. Mars is covered in craters due to its proximity to the asteroid belt, and clouds made of water and carbon-dioxide ice can be seen at the poles. The planet's atmosphere has largely dissipated, leaving it intensely dry, but it was once a wet planet that could have supported primitive life.

via Mashable|

#european-space-agency #mars-atmosphere #mars-express-orbiter

space2 years ago•2 min saved

"Japan's Mars Moon Sample-Return Mission to Include Rover Companion"

A small European-built rover named IDEFIX has arrived in Japan to be part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Martian Moon Exploration (MMX) probe, which aims to collect samples of Mars' moon, Phobos. The rover, developed by the German Aerospace Center and the French space agency, will play a crucial role in gathering information and preparing for the landing of the main spacecraft, which is scheduled to grab Phobos' material in 2029 and send it towards Earth for arrival in 2031. The mission was originally set to launch in 2024 but has been delayed to the next Mars launch window in 2026 due to concerns over the readiness of the new Japanese H3 rocket.

via Space.com|

#jaxa #mars #mmx-mission