TOKYO (Dunya News) - Japan has launched a landmark space mission to collect samples from Mars’ moon Phobos, in an effort to shed light on the formation of the Martian moons and the origins of the Solar System.
The unmanned Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft lifted off aboard an H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southwestern Japan at 4:41 am local time on Tuesday, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
More than an hour after launch, JAXA confirmed that the spacecraft had successfully separated from the rocket and was heading towards the Martian system. The agency also received signals indicating that the probe was operating normally.
“I’d dreamt of this day, so I’m incredibly happy,” JAXA scientist Mari Aida said during the mission’s live broadcast.
The spacecraft is expected to reach the vicinity of Mars around August 2027, where it will study the planet’s two moons, Phobos and Deimos, before attempting to collect material from Phobos.
Under the mission plan, MMX will spend about three years in the Martian region and collect at least 10 grams of surface material from Phobos. The samples will eventually be returned to Earth for detailed scientific analysis.
Rover to explore Phobos
The mission will deploy a French-German rover named IDEFIX to investigate the surface of Phobos before the main spacecraft attempts its sampling operations.
Named after the French name for Dogmatix, the dog belonging to comic-book character Asterix, the rover will conduct surface observations to help scientists assess the moon’s terrain and identify conditions suitable for a safe landing.
The mission represents an international collaboration involving the United States and European space agencies, alongside universities and technology companies.
If successful, MMX will mark a major milestone in the exploration of the Martian system by bringing back samples from one of Mars’ moons.
Scientists seek clues to the Solar System’s origins
Scientists hope the samples will help resolve a long-standing debate over how Phobos and Deimos formed.
One leading theory suggests that the moons emerged from debris created when a large celestial object collided with Mars. Another proposes that they are asteroids captured by the planet’s gravitational field.
Analysing material from Phobos could help researchers determine which explanation is more likely and improve their understanding of the early evolution of Mars and the wider Solar System.
JAXA has said the findings could also provide insights into how potentially habitable environments developed on rocky planets, including Earth and Mars.
NASA Science Mission Directorate administrator Nicky Fox described the mission as an opportunity to advance understanding of the Martian system for future generations, particularly as preparations continue for eventual human exploration of Mars.
Phobos could support future Mars missions
Beyond investigating the moon’s origins, MMX will examine whether Phobos could serve as a natural staging point for future crewed missions to Mars.
A better understanding of the moon’s environment could help scientists assess its potential role in supporting spacecraft operations and reducing some of the challenges associated with human exploration of the Red Planet.
The mission will also observe Deimos, Mars’ smaller outer moon, although the spacecraft will not land on it.
Global race to return Mars samples
Japan’s mission comes amid international efforts to bring material from Mars and its surrounding region back to Earth.
NASA’s Perseverance rover has been collecting samples on Mars since 2021. However, plans to return those samples have faced major setbacks, with the US programme undergoing significant changes following congressional action and decisions by the Trump administration.
China is also preparing its Tianwen-3 mission, which is scheduled for launch around 2028 and aims to return Martian samples as early as 2031.
While MMX is designed to collect material from Phobos rather than Mars itself, its findings could provide valuable information about the planet’s history and the evolution of its moons.
The success of the Japanese mission could therefore represent an important step towards understanding the Martian system and preparing for future robotic and human exploration.