Japan Launches MMX Mission to Return Samples From Martian Moon Phobos

Japan launched its Martian Moons eXploration spacecraft aboard an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center at 19:41 UTC on October 19, early October 20 in Japan. The Japanese space agency leads the mission, which seeks the first samples returned from a Martian moon. The spacecraft is expected to reach Mars in 2027 and aims to collect at least 10 grams of material from Phobos, while also observing the smaller moon Deimos. The mission targets a return to Earth in 2031, with the sample capsule recovered in Australia.