Japan to launch probe for Mars moons in October: Space agency
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.
Japan plans to launch a probe to collect samples from Mars' moons Phobos and Deimos, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, a collaborative effort with U.S., European, and other international partners, is scheduled to blast off from Tanegashima Space Center on October 20 at 4:41 a.m. local time (7:41 p.m. GMT on October 19).
The H3 rocket will carry the MMX probe, which is expected to orbit Mars for approximately three years. Upon reaching Phobos, the mission aims to land and retrieve at least 10 grams (0.35 ounces) of surface material, while the French rover IDEFIX will observe the moon's surface. The spacecraft will also examine Deimos, but it won't land.
A return capsule is set to bring the collected samples back to Earth, landing in Australia in 2031. JAXA hopes the MMX mission will provide insights into the formation of Mars and the solar system, as well as the potential of using Phobos as a natural space station to facilitate future crewed Mars exploration.
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