Japan Launches MMX Mission to Collect Samples From Mars Moon Phobos

Japan Launches Spacecraft on Mission to Return Phobos Samples

The Tech TL;DR:
• JAXA successfully launched the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft on an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center.
• The 4,480-kilogram probe targets arrival at Mars in 2027 to collect surface material from the moon Phobos and return it to Earth by July 2031.
• NASA, CNES, DLR, and the ESA contribute hardware, navigation via the Deep Space Network, and scientific instruments to the international project.

Japan launched a spacecraft on the world’s first mission to collect rock and sand samples from a Martian moon, Physics World reported. The Martian Moons eXploration probe separated successfully from an H3 rocket and entered its planned orbit, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan at 4:41 a.m. local time on October 20.

Rocket Liftoff Follows Previous 2023 Maiden Flight Delay

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi welcomed the launch, expressing hope that the historic mission would succeed. JAXA project manager Makoto Arita told reporters that being involved in such a grand mission is incredibly exciting, and noted that the spacecraft reached its planned orbit with exceptional precision.

Spacecraft Trajectory and Arrival at Mars Scheduled for 2027

The probe will subsequently observe Mars’ second moon, Deimos, before departing Martian orbit in November 2030, with samples expected to return to Earth in July 2031.

International Partnership Involves NASA and European Agencies

NASA is playing an important role in the mission, providing navigation support from the Deep Space Network, funding United States scientists participating on the science team, and contributing hardware. The MEGANE instrument was developed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, while Honeybee Robotics developed the pneumatic sampler mechanism. France’s National Centre for Space Studies, the German Aerospace Center, the European Space Agency, and about 20 universities and technology companies are partners in the project.

More on this story: China plans Tianwen-3 launch in 2028 for 2031 Mars sample return, report says