Japan to launch first round trip Mars mission to bring back 10g dust
JAXA is launching the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission to collect 10g of dust from Mars' moon Phobos. The spacecraft is expected to return to Earth with the samples by 2031, providing insights into the evolution of the solar system.
Why it matters
This mission represents a significant milestone in space exploration, potentially paving the way for future crewed activities on Mars.
New Delhi: The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency or JAXA will launch the Martian Moons exploration spacecraft on Tuesday, marking the first global mission to bring back samples from Mars’ moon Phobos. The five-year-old mission will also be JAXA’s first round-trip to the red planet, with the samples expected to arrive back on Earth in 2031.
The H3 launch vehicle will take off from the Tanegashima Space Centre early Tuesday morning, carrying the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft. This spacecraft has three main modules – one for propulsion towards Mars and its moon Phobos, then for exploration and sample collection, and finally for return and re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
“If we can land on Phobos, this might eventually lead us to establish a base on Phobos to conduct crewed activities on Mars,” said Imada Takane, lead engineer for the MMX spacecraft, in a press release by JAXA.
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