Tokyo (AsiaNews) – Japan launched a space mission today that seeks to collect samples from one of the moons of Mars and return them to Earth by 2031.
The MMX (Martian Moons eXploration) probe, developed by Japan’s space agency JAXA in cooperation with NASA and European agencies, was launched from the Tanegashima Space Centre. Its objective is to reach Phobos, the larger of the two Martian moons, to study its surface and collect at least 10 grams of material.
The mission, which has a budget of approximately US$ 578 million, is expected to reach the Martian system in August of next year. The collection of samples is scheduled for 2030, with the material slated to arrive on Earth the following year.
This research will help clarify whether Phobos and Deimos were formed from debris resulting from an ancient collision with Mars, or if they are asteroids captured by the planet's gravity.
The Japanese mission, however, is but one of the latest space expeditions from Asia.
According to the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR), which in 2024 published a dossier on international space ambitions, nearly 80 countries now have space programs, roughly double the number in 2000.
Asia is home to the most autonomous space capabilities. Beyond the United States, China, Japan, and India have emerged as new powers with space race aspirations, while South Korea is also seen as a rapidly growing player.
In 2023, global military spending on space increased by 18 per cent, reaching US$ 57 billion. The role of private enterprise has also expanded with the global space economy, valued at US$ 630 billion in 2023, potentially reaching US$ 1.8 trillion by 2035.
Overall, the Moon and various planets are increasingly becoming commercially interesting. For instance, in July 2026, the Japanese company Ispace announced an agreement with SpaceX, the firm owned by billionaire Elon Musk, to purchase 500 kg of payload capacity on a future mission to the Moon (scheduled for no earlier than 2030) for approximately US$ 50 million.
China sets its sights on Mars
China is aiming directly for Mars with its Tianwen-3 mission. The launch is set for 2028, with the goal of retrieving at least 500 grams of material by 2031 and searching for potential traces of past life on the Red Planet.
The fact that the return timeline coincides with that of the Japanese mission highlights the ongoing competition in solar system exploration.
Having successfully landed a spacecraft on the Red Planet in 2021, China now aims to further narrow the gap with the United States.
Among Asian powers, only China does not collaborate with the West. Japan works with the United States and Europe; India combines efforts towards technological self-reliance with international partnerships; while South Korea is also committed to cooperation with the US.
China, by contrast, has not signed the Artemis Accords, a set of international principles promoted by NASA and the US State Department to establish shared rules for the exploration and peaceful use of space, and is instead seeking to consolidate its own independent model for space exploration and cooperation.
India towards technological autonomy
India, too, aims to turn its scientific achievements into international prestige. In August 2023, with the Chandrayaan-3 mission, it became the fourth nation to achieve a controlled lunar landing and the first to successfully reach the region of the lunar south pole.
Its space programme will continue with Chandrayaan-4, a mission approved by the government in September 2024 to collect lunar samples and return them to Earth. The plan also includes the development of an Indian space station by 2035 and the deployment of an Indian astronaut to the Moon by 2040.
In its report, the NBR highlights that the expansion of India’s space capabilities is a response to the growth of China’s capabilities, which could potentially be used to hinder or damage satellites. Furthermore, the opening of the sector to private Indian companies, initiated in 2020, aims to broaden the industrial base and attract investment.
South Korea aspiring to join the ranks of the major space powers
South Korea too is trying to reduce its technological dependence on other countries and build a competitive space industry.
In November 2025, the country used its Nuri rocket to launch a 516-kilogram scientific satellite along with 12 microsatellites. For the first time, a private company, Hanwha Aerospace, assembled the launch vehicle, following a technology transfer from the national aerospace research institute.
The roadmap presented by the South Korean space agency includes an orbiter (designed to remain in orbit around a celestial body) for lunar communications by 2029, and a lander (a probe designed to reach and operate on the surface of a celestial body) by 2032.
Meanwhile, the East Asian country is also developing a new launch vehicle, the rocket used to transport a craft from Earth into space. The project, which runs through 2032, is valued at 2.29 trillion won (about US$ 1.7 billion).
However, South Korea’s ambitions extend beyond mere exploration. By 2035, it aims to build a national, low-orbit communications network, utilising hundreds of satellites, to prepare its infrastructure for 6G technology.
At the same time, it has launched a programme to develop a military satellite communications system designed to be more resilient against electromagnetic attacks.
Across the border, North Korea placed its first military reconnaissance satellite, Malligyong-1, into orbit in November 2023 to monitor the military activities of the United States and South Korea.
Satellite imagery analysed this year by NK PRO platform shows renovation work at the Sohae launch site, which could indicate preparations for further orbital launches.
