Japan Sets Launch Date for Martian Moons Sample-Return Mission

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has confirmed that its ambitious mission to retrieve samples from one of Mars’s moons will launch on October 20. The announcement was made on Thursday, setting the stage for a complex, multi-year endeavor.

The unmanned Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe is a collaborative project involving US and European space agencies, along with numerous universities and technology companies. Scientists believe the mission could provide crucial insights into the origins of the Solar System and the emergence of life on Earth.

Launch Details and Mission Timeline

According to JAXA, the flagship H3 rocket carrying the MMX probe will lift off from the Tanegashima Space Center at 4:41 am on October 20, which corresponds to 1941 GMT on October 19. After launch, the spacecraft is scheduled to remain in Mars’s orbit for approximately three years.

The primary objective is to land on Phobos, one of the planet’s two moons. The mission aims to collect a minimum of 10 grams (0.35 ounces) of surface material from Phobos. In addition, the IDEFIX rover, named after the French name for comic hero Asterix’s dog, will conduct surface observations on the moon.

Observing Mars and Returning Samples

While the mission focuses on Phobos, the spacecraft will also observe Deimos, Mars’s other moon, though it will not attempt a landing. The return capsule is designed to travel back to Earth and land in Australia in 2031.

JAXA hopes the mission will answer fundamental questions about how Mars and its moons were formed, which is considered key to understanding the birth of the Solar System. The agency has also stated that the mission will investigate the potential of using Phobos as a “natural space station.” This involves establishing the technology necessary for a round trip to Mars, a capability described as “essential for crewed Mars exploration.”