Japan to launch spacecraft on mission to get samples from Martian moon

TOKYO — Japan is preparing to send a spacecraft on a groundbreaking mission to retrieve samples from Phobos, one of Mars' two small, irregularly shaped moons. The ambitious project, anticipated to take five years, could offer invaluable insights into the moons' origins and potentially shed light on the beginnings of life within our solar system.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will launch the spacecraft on Tuesday using a new Japanese-made H-3 rocket, marking the first mission of its kind in the world. The launch coincides with other nations, including the United States and China, contemplating human exploration of Mars. According to MMX project manager Yasuhiro Kawakatsu, gathering samples from Phobos could prove crucial in determining whether a Martian moon could serve as a future base for manned missions to the planet.

Kawakatsu emphasized that despite their potential significance, Martian moons have never been thoroughly explored, stating, "They are known as the most important unclimbed mountains in the solar system." JAXA will collaborate on the international mission, leveraging equipment and communications support from NASA and other space agencies.