Tokyo: Japan launched its Martian Moons eXploration spacecraft on Tuesday, October 20, beginning what its space agency described as the world’s first mission to collect and return samples from a moon of Mars.
The MMX probe successfully separated from an H3 rocket and entered its planned orbit, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency announced, according to Kyodo News Agency.
The rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southwestern Japan at 4:41am local time. JAXA project manager Makoto Arita said the spacecraft reached its intended orbit with exceptional precision.
The 4480 kilogram probe is scheduled to reach Martian orbit in August 2027 before beginning its investigation of Phobos, the larger of Mars’ two moons.
A French and German rover will first land on Phobos to study its surface. The Japanese spacecraft is then expected to make two landings to collect rock and sand samples.
The mission will also observe Deimos, Mars’ smaller moon, before leaving Martian orbit in November 2030. The samples are scheduled to return to Earth in July 2031.
Scientists aim to use the material to investigate how the two moons formed. The international mission will also develop technologies for future planetary exploration.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi welcomed the launch and expressed hope that the mission would succeed.
The launch had originally been planned for 2024 but was delayed following the failure of the H3 rocket’s maiden flight in 2023.
