Japan will explore Mars and its moons with 8k camera
The Japanese space agency JAXA and broadcaster NHK are developing an 8k camera that will be shipped with the upcoming Martian Moons eXploration mission. The probe aiming to retrieve samples from Phobos will be launched in 2024.
The Japanese space agency and broadcaster say that the MMX probe will be equipped with so-called Super Hi-Vision cameras. It comes with a 4k camera and an 8k camera. Technical details about the cameras have not yet been disclosed; for example, it is unclear at what speed images are recorded or what the sensor dimensions are. 8k usually refers to the 8k-uhd standard of 7680×4320 pixels. This requires a sensor with a resolution of at least 33 megapixels.
JAXA plans to launch the MMX probe in September 2024. It will then arrive in orbit around Mars in August 2025. The probe will capture images of the red planet and the moons Phobos and Deimos. The probe is scheduled to land on Phobos in 2026, where it collects samples and launches itself again from the moon. In 2028, the probe will leave Mars orbit and commence its return to Earth. The probe, including samples, should have returned by September 2029.
The bandwidth for sending images from Mars to Earth is limited. Some of the data collected by the MMX probe is sent directly back to Earth, but the images are stored in the probe in original resolution. All footage can be read when the MMX mission has returned to Earth.
