Japan to launch Martian moon mission on Tuesday | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
Japan launched the MMX spacecraft aboard an H3 rocket on Tuesday, October 20, to collect the first samples from Phobos, the largest moon of Mars. The mission aims to retrieve at least 10 grammes of material to help scientists understand the origins of the solar system. JAXA expects the craft to arrive at Mars in August 2027, with a planned return to Earth in 2031. NASA is also providing assistance to help unlock mysteries regarding the Martian moons through this upcoming mission.
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- ✓ Japan launched the MMX spacecraft on an H3 rocket on October 20.
- ✓ The mission targets Phobos, the largest moon of Mars, to collect and return samples to Earth.
- ✓ JAXA expects the spacecraft to reach Mars in August 2027 and return samples in 2031.
- ✓ The mission objective is to collect at least 10 grammes of material.
What changed
Japan successfully launched the MMX spacecraft via an H3 rocket on October 20.
Live updates
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Japan launches MMX mission to collect samples from Martian moon Phobos
Japan launched the MMX spacecraft aboard an H3 rocket on Tuesday, October 20, to collect the first samples from Phobos, the largest moon of Mars. The mission aims to retrieve at least 10 grammes of material to help scientists understand the origins of the solar system. JAXA expects the craft to arrive at Mars in August 2027, with a planned return to Earth in 2031. NASA is also providing assistance to help unlock mysteries regarding the Martian moons through this upcoming mission.
Why it matters
Phobos is the larger of two moons orbiting Mars. Returning physical samples from this body provides direct evidence of the early solar system's composition. This mission represents the first attempt to bring material from a Martian moon back to Earth.
What is confirmed
- Japan launched the MMX spacecraft on an H3 rocket on October 20.
- The mission targets Phobos, the largest moon of Mars, to collect and return samples to Earth.
- JAXA expects the spacecraft to reach Mars in August 2027 and return samples in 2031.
- The mission objective is to collect at least 10 grammes of material.
- The spacecraft will attempt up to two landings on Phobos in 2029.
What to watch next
- Confirmation of spacecraft health during transit to Mars
- The 2029 landing attempts on Phobos
- Sample return arrival in 2031
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (12)
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- NHKニュース — Japan to launch Martian moon mission on Tuesday | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
- NASA Science (.gov) — NASA to Help Unlock Mysteries of Mars’ Moons in Upcoming Mission
- AP News — Japan to launch spacecraft on a mission to get samples from a Martian moon
- New Scientist — Japan is launching a mission to Mars’s largest moon Phobos
- European Space Agency — Mars moon lander set to launch on 19 October
- arstechnica.com — Japan launches mission to bring home a piece of the Martian moon Phobos - Ars Technica
- www.aerotime.aero — Japan launches mission to bring back first samples from Mars moon Phobos
- www.hawaiipublicradio.org — Asia Minute: Japan's Martian lunar mission is underway
- www.hindustantimes.com — Japan launches mission first of its kind mission to return samples from Martian moon Phobos | World News
- www.nation.com.pk — Japan launches world's first mission to collect samples from Martian moon - The Nation
- www.dailysabah.com — Japan to launch mission to collect samples from Mars moon | Daily Sabah
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