Japan launches historic MMX sample-return mission to Mars' moon Phobos (video)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully initiated its ambitious MMX mission on July 20, 2024, targeting Phobos, one of Mars’ two moons. This groundbreaking endeavor represents a pioneering effort to collect and transport material directly from a Martian satellite for analysis here on Earth. The primary objective is to retrieve approximately 10 kilograms of soil and rock samples from Phobos, marking the initial step in this historic undertaking. JAXA anticipates that the spacecraft will spend roughly six years traveling to Phobos before commencing sample collection operations. Upon completion, the return journey to Earth is projected to take another four years, with arrival expected around 2035.