Japan to launch historic round-trip mission to Mars moon

Japanese scientists are launching the unmanned Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe on an H3 rocket from Tanegashima to retrieve samples from Phobos.

The spacecraft reaches Mars next August, will orbit Phobos, deploy the IDEFIX rover, land and collect 10 grams, then return.

MMX is a JAXA-led mission with partners.

It will also observe Deimos and test Phobos as a staging base for human missions.

Scientists hope the samples will resolve whether the moons formed by a giant impact or are captured asteroids.

The findings could show how water and organics reached rocky planets and help prepare for crewed Mars exploration.