A five year journey encompassed in one orange circle: The vision behind the MMX launch poster

Article by Nasu Yusuke, Management and Integration Department, JAXA ISAS

In October 2026, the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft will depart from Earth.

The destination is Phobos, a small moon orbiting our distant planetary neighbor, Mars. On this moon, MMX will collect samples of grains and rock fragments before undertaking the long journey back though space to return to Earth.

It is a journey that will take five years.

How could the scale of such an adventure be conveyed in a single poster?

What we chose seemed very simple. It was a large orange circle.

What comes to mind when you look at this circle?

For some, it may look like Mars, glowing red in our night sky. For others, it might appear as Phobos, illuminated by the orange light reflected from the red planet. And then for others, it may encapsulate the trajectory of the grand journey to be undertaken by MMX: the launch from Earth, the journey through space, and the eventual return home.

None of these would be wrong.

So what does the orange circle look like to you? The answer is left to the imagination of each person who sees this poster. We hope that this single circle will serve as a gateway, inviting you to let your thoughts wander to the distant Mars and Phobos, and the magnificent five year space odyssey that MMX will undertake. We hope that this circle is a starting point for the unique story of MMX, one that no one has yet seen, and will unfold within each one of us as we go to explore the unknown.

The circle also takes inspiration from “ensō”, a concept in Zen in which the universe and enlightenment are represented by a single circle. A circle, which has neither beginning nor end, likewise mirrors the journey to MMX from Earth to the Martian sphere, and back to Earth again. The orange colour represents Mars, the mission destination. The size of the large circle embodies the long journey, from launch and exploration of the Martian sphere, to the return home, and reflects the hope for the successful completion of this five year mission.

We chose to focus on Zen to express a sense of Japanese identity that would resonate with people around the world. Rather than relying on motifs of Mount Fuji or traditional Japanese patterns, we wanted people to sense Japan through lines drawn with a single brush, expansive blank space, and the traces of a human hand.

The brushstrokes are not overly neat or uniform. Here and there, you can see traces of the dry-brush effects and variations in ink density. This reflects the MMX mission, which is a spacecraft crafted by human hands, from those who built it and those who launched it into space, to those who watched over it from the distant Earth. This journey is sustained by the combined efforts of countless people, both in Japan and overseas, over a long period of time. The ensō brushwork is infused with each touch of these individuals and their heartfelt wishes for the mission’s success. 

The MMX mission mark is also designed around the motif of a circle. The concentric rings embody Mars, Phobos, Deimos, Earth, the bonds of international collaboration, with the circle expanding as people come together. This ensō too carries the same spirit of the circle.

Inside the circle lies a vast expanse of white space.

But this is not an empty void. This is a canvas upon which we will write the story of the next five years. This journey encompasses the arrival at the Martian sphere, the study of the moons, landing on Phobos, collecting the sample, and the return to Earth. Sights and landscapes that have never been seen before and new discoveries will gradually will this open space.

And at the forefront is MMX.

“See you in five years. Until then, take care of Earth.”

We will be waiting for you, MMX!

This poster does more than simply announce the launch date. It is the opening page of a five-year adventure that MMX and all of humanity will embark upon together.

What stories await beyond the orange circle?

The journey of MMX is about to begin.

More information:

MMX special launch website (in Japanese)
MMX Press Kit
MMX Launch Announcement Poster