Japan to launch probe for Mars moons in October
The uncrewed Martian Moons eXploration probe may help unlock the origins of the solar system and life on Earth.
Japan announced plans to launch a mission to collect samples from one of Mars' moons in October. The uncrewed Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe, a collaboration with international space agencies and tech companies, aims to unlock insights into the origins of the solar system and life on Earth. The H3 rocket, carrying the MMX spacecraft, will launch from the Tanegashima Space Center at 4:41 a.m. local time on October 20.
The mission will see MMX orbit Mars for three years, attempting to land on Phobos, one of Mars' moons, to collect a minimum of 10 grams of surface material using the French rover IDEFIX. Additionally, the spacecraft will observe Demos, the other Martian moon, without landing. A return capsule is scheduled to bring the collected samples back to Earth in 2031, landing in Australia.
JAXA hopes the mission will provide crucial information about Mars and its moons' formation, aiding in understanding the solar system's birth. The mission also aims to explore the potential of using Phobos as a "natural space station" to develop technology for future crewed Mars exploration.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
