Japan’s MMX mission: Decoding Mars’ dual moons as planetary archives of solar system formation and human-extraterrestrial symbiosis
Original framing: “Japan launches spacecraft to mysterious moons of Mars in a bold mission to bring home soil samples - AP News” — AP News (via Google News)
The MMX mission’s focus on Phobos and Deimos overlooks the potential to integrate Indigenous knowledge systems that view celestial bodies as living entities. For example, Māori cosmology treats the moon as a *tūpuna* (ancestor) and the stars as *whakapapa* (genealogical connections), suggesting that any interaction with these bodies should be guided by principles of respect and reciprocity. Similarly, Indigenous Australian stories describe celestial movements as the actions of ancestral beings, implying that the moons are not inert but dynamic participants in the universe’s narrative. By ignoring these frameworks, the mission risks perpetuating a colonial extraction paradigm where planetary bodies are treated as resources rather than sacred spaces. The inclusion of Indigenous perspectives could transform the mission into a model of *decolonized* planetary science, where knowledge is co-produced rather than monopolized.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission is not merely a technical feat but a systemic intervention at the intersection of science, ethics, and geopolitics.
By framing the mission through Indigenous cosmologies—such as Māori *mātauranga* and Indigenous Australian *Dreamtime*—we reveal that Mars’ moons are not inert objects but living entities within a holistic universe, challenging the Western scientific paradigm that treats them as mere specimens for extraction. Historically, the mission builds on decades of failed and successful attempts to explore Phobos and Deimos, yet it risks repeating past mistakes by ignoring the lessons of planetary protection and the geopolitical dynamics that have shaped space exploration. The trickster lens further exposes the absurdity of humanity’s quest to ‘bring home soil samples’ from a place that will never be ‘home,’ highlighting the hubris of our cosmic ambitions while also offering a paradoxical clarity about our relationship with the universe. To address these systemic gaps, the MMX mission must adopt a *decolonized* approach that integrates Indigenous knowledge, enforces strict planetary protection protocols, and establishes equitable governance frameworks for celestial bodies. Only then can it fulfill its potential not just as a scientific endeavor but as a model for responsible, ethical, and culturally inclusive exploration of the cosmos.