Japan's MMX probe is on its way to Mars' moon Phobos
Japan has launched the uncrewed MMX spacecraft on a five-year mission to land on Mars' moon Phobos and return soil samples to Earth.
Japan has launched the MMX spacecraft, and it is now heading for Mars' moon Phobos, Deutsche Welle reports. The uncrewed mission is meant to collect surface samples and bring them back to Earth. France 24 says the launch took place on Tuesday.
Ars Technica reports that the main phase comes in 2029. The spacecraft will try up to two landings on Phobos then. PBS NewsHour says the mission will attempt to put a robotic prospector and a rover on the moon.
PBS NewsHour says five of the world's space agencies are working together on the project. France 24 puts the cost at $578 million. It says dust, soil and rocks are due back on Earth in 2031, and calls this the first time samples will be returned from the moons.
CBS News says the samples should help explain where Phobos and Deimos came from. France 24 adds that they could also bear on the origins of life. BBC News, writing before the launch, said the mission aims to bring back 10g of moon dust.
Reported by
- BBC NewsMission set to blast off for Mars to grab a piece of its moonSun, Oct 18, 7:00 PM EDT
- PBS NewsHourJapan launches spacecraft to Mars' moon in mission to bring back soil samplesMon, Oct 19, 4:54 PM EDT
- CBS NewsJapan launches ambitious robotic mission to Martian moon PhobosMon, Oct 19, 5:42 PM EDT
- France 24Japan launches mission to explore Mars' moons and bring back samplesMon, Oct 19, 9:29 PM EDT
- Al JazeeraJapan launches historic mission to bring back Mars moon samplesTue, Oct 20, 12:08 AM EDT
- Ars TechnicaJapan launches mission to bring home a piece of the Martian moon PhobosTue, Oct 20, 1:59 AM EDT
- Deutsche WelleJapan probe sets course for Mars moonTue, Oct 20, 3:16 AM EDT
This story was written by AI using only the reports listed above, and published without a person reviewing it first. It is rewritten as new reports arrive. Read the original reporting for full detail. Spot an error? Tell us.
Earlier versions (5)
- Tue, Oct 20, 2:35 AM EDT, 6 outlets: Japan launches MMX probe to bring back samples from Mars' moon Phobos
- Tue, Oct 20, 12:40 AM EDT, 5 outlets: Japan launches MMX probe to bring back samples from Mars' moon Phobos
- Mon, Oct 19, 9:35 PM EDT, 4 outlets: Japan launches MMX spacecraft on five-year mission to Mars' moons
- Mon, Oct 19, 5:45 PM EDT, 3 outlets: Japan launches MMX probe to Mars' moon Phobos to collect soil
- Mon, Oct 19, 5:00 PM EDT, 2 outlets: Japan launches spacecraft to Mars' moon Phobos to bring back soil samples