The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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The Martian Moon eXploration (MMX) mission will explore Mars’s two moons: Phobos and Deimos. It will do so by flying right up close to them, and even landing on Phobos to collect a sample, before returning to Earth.
The MMX spacecraft comprises three modules, shown separated in this image. On the left is the propulsion module, which will bring the spacecraft into orbit around Mars. The middle is the return module, which carries all the necessary power and communication systems and will return the collected Phobos sample back to Earth. On the right is the exploration module, which consists of the landing and sample collection gear as well as many of the scientific instruments.