Japan probe sets course for Mars moon

Japan's MMX spacecraft embarks on a mission to Mars' moon Phobos, aiming to collect surface samples and unlock the mysteries of the Solar System.

The full report

The MMX spacecraft has successfully set off on a journey to Mars' moon Phobos, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The uncrewed Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission is expected to reach Mars in August 2027, where it will attempt to collect samples from Phobos, the larger of the planet's two moons. The mission aims to lay the groundwork for eventual human exploration of the Martian system.

Scientists hope the probe's discoveries will help determine how Mars and its two moons formed, unlocking a key piece of knowledge about the formation of the Solar System. One theory suggests that Mars' two moons formed after a giant celestial body collided with the planet, while another hypothesis proposes that the moons are asteroids captured by Mars' gravity.

The MMX spacecraft is equipped with the German-French rover IDEFIX, which will explore the surface of Phobos. The mission also aims to reveal how a habitable environment for life might have arisen on the terrestrial planets, the four rocky planets closest to the sun.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) received signals from the spacecraft as expected, confirming it was operating normally. The agency also announced that the probe had successfully separated from the H3 rocket and was beginning its journey towards the Martian system.