Japan Launches Historic Mission to Mars’ Moon Phobos: Spacecraft to Collect Samples and Return Them to Earth by 2031
Japan sent its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft towards Phobos on October 20, 2026, starting a five-year effort to bring back the first samples from the Mars system. An H3 rocket lifted off from Tanegashima Space Center at 4:41:03 am Japan time. JAXA confirmed successful separation and initial operations. The mission will examine both Martian moons, land on Phobos, and …
