The development of the P-SMP flight model for MMX is now complete

The Pneumatic Sampler Mechanism (P-SMP) is one of the 13 instruments onboard the Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) spacecraft, and is responsible for sampling regolith from the surface of Phobos. P-SMP will capture surface material by ejecting high-pressure nitrogen gas to lift and collect material. In the unlikely event that the geology of Phobos is too hard for the corer of the C-SMP to operate, P-SMP will still be able to collect a sample. Moreover, while C-SMP will collect a sample of material from down to a few centimeters into the surface of Phobos, P-SMP will gather only surface samples. This will help distinguish top layer material from deeper layers in the samples collected by C-SMP.

Left: The P-SMP FM (Flight Model) during delivery (undergoing purge with nitrogen to avoid contamination), with a contamination monitor coupon installed on the upper side. Right: Group photo at the time of the P-SMP handover. From left to right: Sawada Hirotaka, Nagamine Kenta, Satou Yasutaka from JAXA, Lam Justin Sherman, Matsuyama Yuka from Honeybee Robotic, Endo Shingo, Teramoto Hideo, Kishigami Tatsuya, Arai Miyuki from MELCO.

The possibility of including P-SMP in MMX began around 2016 in discussion with Honeybee Robotics, a US company with development experiment in the NASA Mars exploration missions. After undergoing the necessary development tests, P-SMP passed the Post Qualification Review (PQR) and Pre-Shipping Review (PSR) which confirmed the completion of the Flight Model (FM) development by October 2022. P-SMP then travelled to the spacecraft manufacturer (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation) site, Kamakura Works, and was officially handed over in October 2024 after the post-transport functionality check.

P-SMP will be attached to one of the landing legs of MMX’s Exploration Module, and join the comprehensive system tests.

P-SMP Development Company Representative Dr Kris ZACNY
Vice President of Exploration Systems, Honeybee Robotics, A Blue Origin Company

Developing the Pneumatic Sampler (PS) for MMX has been one of the most rewarding experiences. We worked very closely with our friends and colleagues from NASA, JAXA, and MELCO to develop and integrate PS on the spacecraft. We had to overcome mountains of challenges. These included language barriers, time zone differences, large distances (we are on extreme sides of a largest ocean), a worldwide pandemic, and many others. But the reason why we managed to overcome these challenges is because we share one thing in common: passion for space exploration. And this passion is stronger than any other challenges!

PS was invented during my graduate time over 20 years ago and it took many people and help from many institutions, including NASA, the Planetary Society, and JAXA to mature this technology to a point where it can be flown to Phobos. I will forever be grateful to everyone that helped to get us to this point, and soon to Phobos. Being part of MMX mission is a dream come true and I feel very fortunate to be part of it. 

NASA Representative Dr Charles E. WEBB
Acting Director of the Planetary Science Division

I’m excited that NASA successfully delivered this critical hardware as part of our cooperation with JAXA. Honeybee Robotics’ novel technology will enable us to obtain pristine regolith from the Martian moon, Phobos, which will help tell the origin story of the Martian moons.

MMX Project P-SMP Lead SATOU Yasutaka
Associate Professor, JAXA

First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has been involved in bringing P-SMP to the handover stage. P-SMP will now be attached to one of the legs on MMX, and the Japanese equipment team were extremely helpful in allowing the manipulator from C-SMP to grasp and retrieve the canister containing the collected regolith. We will continue to work hard to ensure that the samples are reliably gathered on the surface of Phobos.