The Japanese Martian Moons eXplorer (MMX) mission, scheduled for launch in 2026, aims to elucidate the origin of Phobos and Deimos, return samples from Phobos, and characterize Mars’ atmospheric system. The MMX Infrared Spectrometer (MIRS), developed by the French Laboratory of Instrumentation and Research in Astrophysics (LESIA) at Observatoire de Paris – PSL with close cooperation and financial support from CNES, will play a crucial role in unraveling the formation of Phobos and Deimos, as well as the dynamic processes of the Martian atmosphere.
To achieve its ambitious scientific goals, MIRS will perform a wide variety of observations of Phobos, Deimos, and Mars, along with specific and regular calibrations on stars. The automatic calculation of observation opportunity slots for each target, the associated observation conditions, and the actual observation timings and required MMX and MIRS guidance will be handled by the PROMISE library (mission PROgramming library for MIrS Exploration). Designed, developed, and validated by the mission planning team, PROMISE ensures that the defined MMX and MIRS system constraints are respected. It is integrated into the CNES MIRS control ground segment, which provides all the necessary functionalities to operate MIRS.
To empower the MIRS science team with the most efficient granularity in observation planning, we have jointly defined Science Requests using a user-centric design approach. Through dedicated hands-on workshops, we involved end-users early in the design phase with concrete examples and scenarios. This collaborative approach helped us identify the needs for tools and functionalities in the LIRA Data Processing Centre, where Science Requests will be prepared, and initiated discussions on the operations organization.
Initially designed to use and validate the PROMISE library independently from the CNES control ground segment with a user-friendly interface, the MIRS Observation Playground and Simulations (MOPS) simulation tool has been invaluable throughout the process. In addition to providing an efficient interface to create Science Requests, MOPS allows users to didactically run all the phases necessary for observation preparation and to ergonomically visualize the results.
For these reasons, it is now envisaged to use MOPS for parts of the operations training of the MIRS Science Team, as well as to assist in the preparation of Science Requests during operations. This includes mid-term observation planning and advanced pre-checks of Science Requests at the Data Processing Centre.
Given the complexity of the MMX mission and the sophisticated capabilities of MIRS, coordinating the efforts of multiple stakeholders with diverse expertise presents a significant challenge. The clear definition of responsibilities, coupled with the user-centric design of tools like MOPS and the clear perimeter of the mission planning library PROMISE, have been key to aligning the diverse expertise of the teams involved. These practices have significantly contributed to the preparation of the MIRS ground segment and operations and could serve as a valuable model for future complex missions.