IT·Science Talk

How does MMX handle the communication delay to Mars when landing on Phobos?

Software engineer here, so I always get curious about the control loop. Mars is far enough that a signal takes several minutes to arrive one way, and up to around 20 minutes when the planets are far apart. So nobody on Earth can 'fly' the landing in real time.

Does that mean the MMX touchdown on Phobos is fully autonomous? And how does the IDEFIX rover fit in, is it scouting so the autonomy has better data, or is that more about the science?

Bonus question: the GONOM post says the mission spends about three years in the Martian system. Is that mostly waiting for the planets to line up for the trip home?