Watch LIVE: Japan to launch mission to bring pieces of Martian moon Phobos shortly

JAXA will launch its MMX mission to collect samples from the Martian moon Phobos. Success could clarify the moon's origins and reveal clues about Mars' early history.

In Short

• H3 rocket will lift off from Tanegashima at 1:11 am IST
• Spacecraft carries 13 instruments to examine surface, structure, composition
• The rover will assess terrain before the spacecraft begins sample collection

Japan is in the final moments to embark on an extraordinary journey to one of Mars’ most mysterious companions, with a mission designed to bring back pieces of a tiny moon that could hold clues to how the Red Planet and its surroundings evolved.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will launch of the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission tonight at 1:11 am IST, aiming to collect samples from Phobos and return them to Earth.

WATCH JAPAN'S MARTIAN MOON MISSION LAUNCH LIVE HERE

If successful, the mission could help scientists resolve a long-standing debate over whether Mars’ moons are captured asteroids or formed from debris created by a massive impact on the planet.

The spacecraft is set to launch aboard Japan’s H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Centre. It will travel to the Martian system, study Phobos and its smaller sibling Deimos, and attempt to collect at least 10 grams of material from Phobos’ surface.

A ROVER AND 13 SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS

MMX will carry 13 scientific instruments to investigate Phobos’ surface, composition, internal structure and gravity. It will also study Deimos from a distance.

Among its key payloads is IDEFIX, a small rover developed by France’s CNES and Germany’s DLR. The rover will explore Phobos’ surface, helping scientists understand its terrain before the main spacecraft attempts sample collection.

The spacecraft is expected to reach the Martian system in August 2027 and spend around three years studying the moons. It will use a combination of sampling techniques to collect loose surface material and deeper grains, with the samples sealed in a return capsule for the journey home.

WHY PHOBOS MATTERS

Phobos is an unusual, irregularly shaped moon that orbits extremely close to Mars. Scientists remain divided over its origins: it could be an asteroid captured by Mars’ gravity or material left behind after a giant impact on the planet.

By analysing samples in laboratories on Earth, researchers hope to determine which explanation is more likely and uncover clues about Mars’ early history. The material could also contain traces of Martian material thrown into space by ancient impacts.

The mission is scheduled to return its samples to Earth in 2031.

If successful, MMX will mark the first time material has been collected from a moon of Mars and brought back to Earth, opening a new chapter in planetary exploration.

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