Japan to launch probe for Mars moons in October: Space agency

Japan's space agency, JAXA, is set to launch the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe in October to collect samples from Phobos. The mission aims to understand the origins of the solar system and test technology for future crewed Mars missions.
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Advances in space exploration and planetary science provide critical data on the history of our solar system.
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Add as preferred source Japan's unmanned Martian Moons eXploration probe may help unlock the origins of the Solar System and life on Earth. Japan's ambitious mission to collect and bring back samples from one of Mars' moons will lift off Oct. 20, the space agency announced Thursday.
The unmanned Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe, a collaboration with U.S. and European space agencies as well as numerous universities and tech companies, may help unlock the origins of the solar system and life on Earth.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said the flagship H3 rocket carrying the MMX will blast off from Tanegashima Space Center at 4:41 a.m. Oct. 20 (7:41 p.m. GMT Oct. 19).
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