Rome, 20 Oct. (LaPresse/AP) – Japan has launched a probe bound for Mars to explore its two moons, Phobos and Deimos, and bring back soil and rock samples to Earth. The MMX (Martian Moons Exploration) mission, led by the Japanese space agency JAXA in collaboration with four other international agencies, will last five years and will involve the use of a Franco-German rover, Idefix, which will explore Phobos for around 100 days. The main lander is expected to collect at least 10 grams of material in 2028 or 2029, before returning to Earth in 2031. The aim is to shed light on the origin of the two Martian moons and to deepen our understanding of the formation of celestial bodies and the possible conditions for the development of life. The mission, with a total cost of $578 million, involves Japan, the United States, France, Germany and the European Space Agency. China also aims to bring back samples from Mars by 2031.
Space: Japan launches a probe towards Mars’ moons
Rome, 20 Oct. (LaPresse/AP) – Japan has launched a probe bound for Mars to explore its two moons, Phobos and Deimos, and bring back soil and rock samples to Earth. The MMX (Martian Moons Exploration) mission, led by the Japanese space agency JAXA in collaboration with four other international agencies, will last five years and will involve the use of a Franco-German rover, Idefix, which will explore Phobos for around 100 days. The main lander is expected to collect at least 10 grams of material in 2028 or 2029, before returning to Earth in 2031. The aim is to shed light on the origin of the two Martian moons and to deepen our understanding of the formation of celestial bodies and the possible conditions for the development of life. The mission, with a total cost of $578 million, involves Japan, the United States, France, Germany and the European Space Agency. China also aims to bring back samples from Mars by 2031.