Some mobile phones already offer 8K video shooting, but its practical usability is not very high at the moment. The Japanese Space Research Agency (JAXA) and public television NHK are developing 4K and 8K cameras that will capture images of Mars and its moons (Phobos and Deimos) during the planned Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission.
The spacecraft will regularly photograph the red planet and its moons, sending some of the images to Earth immediately. The originals of all the shots taken will be stored on a recording device in a capsule, which will later be sent back to the home planet. If all goes according to plan, the spacecraft should launch in September 2024 and approach the red planet in August 2025.
8K images of Mars
The goal of the Martian Moons Exploration mission is not just to take high-resolution pictures of the surface. The probe’s task will also be to land on Phobos and take samples that should contribute to a better understanding of the past and present of Mars.
In a press release announcing the conclusion of the cooperation, JAXA refers to the camera as a “Super Hi-Vision Camera”, however, it does not mention any technical parameters. Detailed images could help scientists unravel the mystery of Mars’ history and provide a closer look at whether or not microbes and water existed on its surface.
“JAXA is currently developing the MMX spacecraft, which is due to be launched in 2024, to clarify the origin of the moons of Mars and the evolutionary process of the Martian system,” the press release said. However, we will have to wait a while for the capsule with all the materials – the date of its expected return is planned for September 2029 .
