Japan launches MMX mission to collect samples from Mars moon Phobos
publishers 37articles 38first reported 17 Oct, 21:39 UTCdeveloping since 18 Oct · 10 editions
Japan launched its uncrewed Martian Moons eXploration spacecraft on Tuesday, beginning a mission to study Mars’ moons and attempt the first return of samples from Phobos to Earth.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s H3 rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center at 4:41 a.m. local time on October 20. About 71 minutes later, the MMX probe separated from the rocket’s upper stage and began its journey toward Mars.
MMX is expected to reach the Martian system in 2027 and spend about three years studying Phobos and its surroundings. The spacecraft is designed to land on the moon and collect at least 10 grams of surface material for delivery to Earth in 2031. It will also observe Mars’ smaller moon, Deimos, without landing there.
Before the spacecraft’s landing, a small French-German rover named IDEFIX is expected to examine the surface of Phobos. The mission includes contributions from US and European space agencies, universities and technology companies.
Scientists hope the samples will help determine whether Phobos and Deimos are asteroids captured by Mars’ gravity or debris formed after a large object struck the planet. JAXA also plans to assess Phobos’ potential role as a staging point for future crewed exploration of Mars. If successful, MMX would complete the first round trip between Earth and the Martian region and the first sample return from Phobos.
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Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 48 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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