Japan successfully launches probe in historic Mars moon mission
Japan's space agency, JAXA, successfully launched the H3 rocket carrying the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe. The mission aims to retrieve samples from Phobos, one of Mars' moons, to study the origins of the solar system.
Why it matters
This mission represents a significant milestone in planetary science, potentially providing critical data on the formation of the solar system and the history of life on Earth.
Japan successfully launches probe in historic Mars moon mission left Phobos, the larger of Mars' two moons, is seen in this undated image taken by NASA's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Reuters Reuters https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/otstwa/article71603096.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-10-19T194848Z_1156234402_RC286OAF2VVK_RTRMADP_3_JAPAN-SPACE-PHOBOS-ROCKET.JPG NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona Phobos, the larger of Mars' two moons, is seen in this undated image taken by NASA's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. The flagship H3 rocket carrying the unmanned Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe blasted off into a pitch black sky from the Tanegashima Space Center at 4:41 a.m.
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Japan Launches Historic Spacecraft on Journey to Mars Moons
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