Japan Successfully Launches Martian Moon Probe on Landmark Mission
JAXA has successfully launched the H3 rocket carrying the MMX probe, which aims to collect samples from the Martian moon Phobos. The mission is expected to return to Earth in 2031, potentially providing new insights into the origins of Mars and life on Earth.
Why it matters
This mission represents a significant milestone in space exploration as the first-ever attempt to return samples from the Martian system.
Tokyo, Oct. 20 (Jiji Press)--The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, successfully launched an H3 rocket carrying the Martian Moons eXploration, or MMX, probe on Tuesday.
The No. 10 H3 rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, at 4:41 a.m. About 1 hour and 11 minutes later, the rocket successfully placed the MMX into its planned orbit, completing a successful launch. Following three consecutive successful launches, the H3 rocket's success rate has risen to 80 pct.
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Japan Launches Historic Spacecraft on Journey to Mars Moons
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