Japan probe on its way to Mars moon
Japan probe on its way to Mars moon
Japan launched its Martian Moons eXploration probe aboard a rocket on Tuesday (Oct 20), kicking off a world-first mission to retrieve samples from one of Mars's moons.
The spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket and began its journey towards Mars. It is expected to arrive around August 2027, when it will orbit Phobos, one of the red planet's two moons.
A French-German rover named IDEFIX will become the first vehicle to travel across Phobos, studying its surface to help ensure a safe landing for the Japanese spacecraft.
The probe aims to collect at least 10g of material from Phobos during its planned three-year mission near Mars.
Scientists hope the samples will reveal how Mars and its moons formed, offering clues to the origins of the Solar System and how conditions suitable for life may have arisen on rocky planets.
The mission could also help prepare for human exploration of Mars. Scientists will study whether Phobos could serve as a natural space station for future crewed missions to the red planet.
