Japan launches mission to bring home a piece of the Martian moon Phobos
The climax for MMX will come in 2029, when the spacecraft will attempt up to two landings on Phobos.
Japan's space agency, JAXA, is set to attempt a groundbreaking mission to Mars' moon Phobos, named after the Greek god of fear. This mission, called Martian Moons eXploration (MMX), will mark the first-ever attempt to bring samples from a moon other than Earth's moon back to our planet. Despite three previous probes to Phobos failing, researchers are eager to finally solve the mystery of the moons' origins.
Some theories suggest the moons are asteroids captured by Mars' gravity, while others propose they formed from debris left over from a collision. MMX aims to gather samples from Phobos to ascertain its elemental composition, which could shed light on the debate. Japan's scientists, led by Kiyoshi Kuramoto, express excitement about the mission, emphasizing the international collaboration and expertise behind it.
The spacecraft will launch from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center in early 2024, journeying to Mars and its two moons, Phobos and Deimos. After one year's travel, the spacecraft will survey Phobos and collect samples, with a goal of bringing them back to Earth by 2031. These samples will offer crucial insights into Mars' evolution and the early solar system, as well as the origins of Phobos itself.
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