Technology · 2 hours ago
Japan Launches Mission to Bring Back Rock From Mars Moon Phobos
ISAS/JAXA, Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0 (CC BY 4.0-compatible), via Wikimedia Commons
Japan's space agency has launched a spacecraft that aims to become the first to bring back material from Phobos, the larger of Mars's two moons. The MMX probe lifted off on an H3 rocket from Tanegashima at 8:41pm UK time on Monday. It should reach Mars in August 2027, release a small French-German rover, then collect samples due back on Earth in 2031 for study.
Reported by The Japan Times · How we write briefs