Japan launches mission to collect samples from Mars's moon Phobos

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 14:44 · Archive

Japan's H3 rocket has launched the MMX probe on a three-year mission to collect samples from Phobos.

Japan's H3 rocket successfully launched the Martian Moons eXploration probe on Tuesday morning from Tanegashima Space Centre. Roughly an hour after lift-off, mission controllers confirmed the spacecraft had cleanly detached from the rocket's upper stage and was operating normally.

The five-tonne spacecraft, built through collaboration involving five space agencies, is scheduled to arrive at Mars in August 2027 and synchronise with Phobos's orbit a month later. The mission costs $578m. JAXA scientist Mari Aida said: 'I'd dreamt of this day, so I'm incredibly happy. Right now, I feel really relieved.' NASA astrophysicist Tom Statler, who is contributing to the project, described the mood as 'pure elation'.

Phobos is a potato-shaped moon measuring just 14 miles across and circles Mars three times daily. The probe will first study the moon before deploying a small French-German rover named Idefix to collect samples. The mission aims to explore the origins of the Solar System.

How it is being reported

• Space breakthrough as moon rock from Mars set to be brought back to Earth for first time everA Japan-led mission has successfully sent a spacecraft hurtling towards Mars's moon Phobos, marking the beginning of an unprecedented mission to retrieve samples from the Martian system. The unmanned Martian Moons eXploration probe departed Tanegashima Space Centre aboard JAXA's flagship H3 rocket in the early hours of Tuesday morning, piercing a dark sky as thousands watched via livestream despite the pre-dawn hour. Roughly an hour after lift-off, mission controllers confirmed the probe had cleanly detached from the rocket's upper stage and was operating normally, triggering celebrations in…GB News · 20 Oct, 14:35
• Japan launches mission to bring back samples from Mars’s moon PhobosJapan’s H3 rocket launched the MMX probe on Tuesday, starting a three-year mission to collect samples from Phobos and study the origins of the Solar System.Euronews · 20 Oct, 10:21

In this story: Japan · JAXA · NASA · Phobos · Mars · Mari Aida · Tom Statler · Tanegashima Space Centre

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