On October 20, 2026, JAXA (Japan's space agency) plans to launch Flight 10 of its H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center. It will carry MMX, a spacecraft headed for the moons of Mars.
We're Take Parts Factory, an NC (CNC) lathe shop in Aichi, Japan. We have machined parts for the LE-9, the H3's first-stage main engine, so this launch matters to us.
Launch schedule
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Launch time (Japan) | Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 4:41:03 a.m. JST |
| Launch time (UTC) | Monday, October 19, 2026, 19:41:03 UTC |
| US time | Monday, October 19: 3:41 p.m. Eastern, 12:41 p.m. Pacific |
| Launch site | Tanegashima Space Center, Japan |
| Payload | MMX (Martian Moons eXploration) |
| Backup dates | October 21 to November 9, 2026 (JST) |
Weather or preparations can change the date. Check JAXA's announcements for the latest.
What MMX will do
MMX will observe Phobos and Deimos, the two moons of Mars. It is designed to land on Phobos, collect samples, and bring them back to Earth, with the return planned for Japan's fiscal year 2031. No mission has yet brought back samples from the Mars system. The H3 will send MMX onto a path toward Mars.
The LE-9 engine
The H3's first stage runs on the LE-9 main engine. Flight 10 flies with two of them.
We machined about 15 parts for the LE-9 engine. We are also listed by JAXA as a supporter company of the H3 rocket's first test flight.
Watch and cheer with us
JAXA will stream the launch live, starting at about 3:45 a.m. JST on October 20 (18:45 UTC on October 19). Times can change.
Please join us in cheering for the launch. We'll post the result here after the launch.
If you're looking for a shop in Japan for precision turned parts in difficult materials, you can write to us in English at info@takepartsfactory.com.
