Japan launches first mission to collect samples from Martian moon
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 18 Oct, 09:08 · Archive
Japan is launching a spacecraft to bring back the first samples from Phobos, one of Mars' two moons.
Japan is launching a spacecraft on the world's first mission to bring back samples from Phobos, one of Mars' two small, potato-shaped moons. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will launch the spacecraft on an H3 rocket on Tuesday. The mission is expected to take five years, with the spacecraft arriving at Mars a year after launch, spending three years gathering data and samples from Phobos, and returning in 2031.
Scientists hope the samples will provide clues to how Phobos and its smaller sibling Deimos formed, and shed light on the origins of life in the solar system. A key question is what the moons are made of and how they formed. Some scientists think the irregular, crater-pocked bodies could be remnants of debris from a large celestial object crashing into Mars. Others believe they could be asteroids from elsewhere. Phobos orbits Mars at a distance of about 6,000 km, with a diameter of roughly 20 to 30 km.
MMX project manager Yasuhiro Kawakatsu said Martian moons have never been fully investigated and are 'the most important unclimbed mountains in the solar system'. Samples from Phobos will provide data for scientists considering a Martian moon as a base for future manned missions. Japan leads the international mission with equipment and communications support from NASA and other national space agencies.
How it is being reported
- Japan set to launch space mission to Martian moonJapan is launching a spacecraft on a groundbreaking mission to bring back samples from Phobos, one of Mars' moonsPerth Now · 18 Oct, 08:39
- Japan set to launch space mission to Martian moonJapan is launching a spacecraft on a groundbreaking mission to bring back samples from Phobos, one of Mars' moonsThe West Australian · 18 Oct, 08:39
In this story: Japan · Mars · Phobos · Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency · NASA · Yasuhiro Kawakatsu · Kiyoshi Kuramoto
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