https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/japan-to-launch-world-first-mission-to-collect-samples-from-martian-moonContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/japan-to-launch-world-first-mission-to-collect-samples-from-martian-moonhttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/japan-to-launch-world-first-mission-to-collect-samples-from-martian-moon#u142615Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:40:27 +0000The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency successfully launched an H3 rocket carrying a spacecraft to explore the mysterious moons of Mars and bring home soil samples. This marks the world-first attempt at a sample return from a Martian moon. The spacecraft aims to collect rocks and sand from Phobos, Mars's largest moon, before returning materials to Earth in July 2031. An international space mission component expects the retrieved sample to land in Australia upon return.Why it mattersThe Japanese space agency leads this five-year mission targeting Phobos, described as one of the most import