Mars and Planetary Missions: Rovers, Probes, Sample Return — 2026-10-28
Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission has successfully launched to retrieve samples from Phobos, marking a critical step in planetary science. Meanwhile, NASA’s Perseverance rover has shattered the all-time distance record for off-world driving, surpassing the long-held record set by Opportunity.
Mars and Planetary Missions: Rovers, Probes, Sample Return — 2026-10-28
Top developments
Perseverance Shatters All-Time Off-World Driving Record
NASA’s Perseverance rover has officially broken the record for the greatest distance driven on another world. On October 11, 2026, Perseverance surpassed the 28.06-mile (45.16-km) record previously held by the Opportunity rover, achieving this milestone in just five and a half years—a feat that took Opportunity nearly fifteen years. The achievement highlights the effectiveness of Perseverance’s advanced autonomous navigation system, allowing it to traverse the rugged terrain of Jezero Crater more efficiently than its predecessors.
Japan Launches Historic MMX Mission to Phobos
Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission on October 20, 2026. The spacecraft is en route to Phobos, Mars’s larger moon, with the goal of collecting at least 10 grams of surface material and returning it to Earth by 2031. This mission is a major international collaboration, featuring French instruments and a rover, and aims to determine whether Phobos is a captured asteroid or a fragment of Mars ejected by a giant impact.
Curiosity Rover Approaches Mysterious Cliffs
NASA’s Curiosity rover is currently approaching a series of wind-carved cliffs known as "mystery cliffs" on the slopes of Mount Sharp. Recent images released this week reveal intricate geological formations that may provide evidence of ancient volcanic activity or unique erosion patterns. Scientists anticipate that detailed analysis of these formations in 2027 could resolve long-standing questions about Mars’s volcanic and atmospheric history.
Psyche Spacecraft Accelerates Toward Asteroid Belt
Following a successful Mars gravity assist, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has fired its thrusters to accelerate toward its target, the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche. The spacecraft is now in the cruise phase of its journey, utilizing its solar-electric propulsion system to optimize its trajectory for arrival in 2029. This mission aims to explore a unique metallic body that may represent the exposed core of an early planetesimal.
Local view
French media outlets have highlighted the significant role of French technology in the MMX mission. France 24 reported on the "French presence on board," noting that the spacecraft carries a French rover and spectrometer, underscoring the collaboration between JAXA, CNES, NASA, ESA, and DLR. Le Soir emphasized the mission's unprecedented nature, describing it as a "historic mission" that will spend three years in the Mars region before collecting samples from Phobos.
Context & numbers
The MMX mission is designed to return at least 10 grams of material from Phobos, a quantity small but scientifically significant for understanding the origins of the Martian moons. Perseverance’s new driving record stands at over 28.06 miles, a distance achieved in 5.5 years compared to Opportunity’s 15 years for the same distance. The Psyche mission is currently accelerating after its Mars flyby, with a scheduled arrival at the asteroid in 2029.
On the radar
- BepiColombo Mercury Arrival: The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission is currently in its final approach to Mercury, having separated its transfer module earlier this year. The spacecraft is scheduled to enter Mercury orbit in late 2026, with the main phase of science operations beginning in early 2027.
- Venus Missions Back on Track: NASA’s DAVINCI and VERITAS missions, which had faced cancellation threats, are reportedly back on track. DAVINCI is targeting a December 2030 launch, while VERITAS is scheduled for November 2032.
- Europa Clipper Cruise: The Europa Clipper spacecraft continues its cruise toward Jupiter, with arrival planned for April 2030. It will conduct detailed reconnaissance of Europa to investigate the moon's potential habitability.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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