Launch of Idefix rover

On October 19, the French space agency CNES and its German partner, the DLR, launched a rover named Idefix toward Phobos, a moon of Mars, using the H3-24L version of the H3 rocket from the Tanegashima space center in Japan. The launch occurred at 21h41 Paris time, which was 04h41 on October 20 in Japan.

H3 rocket's tenth flight

This was the H3 rocket's 10th flight and it carried the MMX (Martian Moons eXploration) probe, which is led by the Japanese space agency JAXA in collaboration with NASA, CNES, DLR, and ESA. The mission's departure was a success, and the entire probe is now en route to Mars.

Idefix's weight on Phobos

Idefix, which weighs 25 kg on Earth, will weigh only the equivalent of 15 grams on Phobos due to the moon's much weaker gravity, which is about 1,800 times less than Earth's. This reduced weight affects the rover's adhesion, braking, and how it responds to even the smallest movement.

Design and development of Idefix

Idefix was developed equally by the CNES and the DLR. The German side handled the structure, wheels, mobility, as well as the spectrometer and radiometer. The French side developed the cameras, computer, power supply, and communications systems. The rover is controlled from the CNES space center in Toulouse and from Cologne, at the DLR.

Mission timeline and objectives

Arrival in Mars orbit is expected in August 2027, and the probe will then position itself in orbit around Phobos starting in September 2027. The release of Idefix is expected around the end of 2028 or the beginning of 2029, with the ESA leaning toward the beginning of 2029. The rover will be dropped in free fall from about 40 meters above the surface.

Scientific mission and sample return

During its mission, Idefix will act as a scout, with its observations used to choose where the probe will land. The probe will collect more than 10 g of soil from 2 cm depth and leave Mars orbit in November 2030, releasing a capsule expected to fall in the Australian desert in July 2031. This will be the first sample brought back from the Martian system.

Rover's name and trademark

The name of the rover comes from Obélix's dog, and not from that of Astérix, contrary to a common misconception. The rover retains the name in German, and Idefix® is a trademark, hence the symbol attached to the name in DLR communications.