Japan prepares uncrewed mission to retrieve samples from Martian moon

Japanese scientists are preparing an uncrewed mission to Mars' moons to retrieve samples from the region, Phys.org Space reported. The Express Tribune, The Straits Times, and other outlets reported that the effort aims to perform a round trip to the Martian area. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][9][10][12]

The unmanned Martian Moons eXploration probe is a collaborative effort involving United States and European space agencies alongside numerous universities and technology companies, according to Phys.org Space. New Scientist and Türkiye Today noted that the mission targets the largest Martian moon, Phobos. [2][11][12]

As FTMQ Space reported earlier, the robotic mission is scheduled to launch from the Tanegashima Space Center. The spacecraft aims to collect physical samples from Phobos and return them to Earth. NASA is providing key hardware and scientific contributions to the Japanese-led project. [17][18]

Phys.org Space reported that scientists hope the retrieved physical samples will help reveal the origins of the solar system and life on Earth. Mars is orbited by two irregularly shaped moons, Phobos and Deimos, whose exact origins remain uncertain. [2][16]