Watch: Japan launches historic mission to explore Mars’ moons and bring back samples
Japan has launched the Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission to collect samples from Phobos, one of Mars' two moons. The spacecraft aims to return these samples to Earth by 2031 to help scientists understand the origins of the Martian system.
Why it matters
This mission represents a significant milestone in space exploration, as it is the first attempt to retrieve material from the Martian moon system, potentially revealing how planetary bodies form.
Japan launched a spacecraft towards Mars on Tuesday on a historic five-year mission to explore the Red Planet’s mysterious moons, Phobos and Deimos, and bring back samples to Earth. Led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the mission aims to collect at least 10 grams of material from Phobos, marking the first attempt to retrieve samples from the Martian sphere.The spacecraft lifted off before dawn from Tanegashima Island, Japan’s main spaceport, as five space agencies joined forces for the ambitious project. If successful, the mission, known as Martian Moons Exploration (MMX), will deliver dust, soil and rock samples from Phobos to Earth in 2031, potentially offering new insights into the origins of Mars’ moons and the evolution of the Solar System.Despite decades of Mars exploration, no spacecraft has ever landed on either Phobos or Deimos, the planet’s two small moons.
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Japan Launches Historic Spacecraft on Journey to Mars Moons
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