Japan to Launch Mission to Retrieve Samples from Martian Moon Phobos

Japan is set to launch a space mission on Tuesday to collect soil and surface samples from Phobos, one of Mars’ two natural moons, and bring them back to Earth. If successful, the mission would mark the world’s first attempt to land on a Martian moon, collect samples and return them to Earth.

Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported the development on Sunday, according to Anadolu Agency.

The mission, known as the Martian Moons Exploration (MMX), is scheduled to launch from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, aboard an H3 rocket.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is leading the mission, which will consist of three modules. The project’s development cost is estimated at 5.53 billion yen, equivalent to approximately $35 million.

The exploration module will carry sampling equipment, scientific observation instruments and two ultra-high-resolution cameras. These instruments will be used to study Phobos’ surface and collect samples for further analysis.

The spacecraft is expected to reach the vicinity of Mars about a year after launch. It will then spend approximately three years observing Mars and its moons.

Under the current plan, the sample-return module could bring the collected material back to Earth by the end of Japan’s fiscal year ending in March 2032.

Phobos is one of the two natural moons of Mars, the other being Deimos. Scientists believe that analysing its composition and surface materials could provide valuable insights into the origin of the Martian moons and the evolution of the solar system.

Once returned to Earth, the samples will be examined in advanced laboratories, allowing scientists to test existing theories about how Phobos formed and improve their understanding of the history of Mars and its moons.