Japan Prepares Martian Moon Mission to Probe Origins of Life and Solar System

Japanese scientists are preparing a mission to Mars’s moons to collect samples that could reveal the origins of the Solar System and life on Earth, aiming for the first round‑trip to the Martian system.

The uncrewed Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe, a joint effort with US and European space agencies, numerous universities and tech firms, could also pave the way for future human exploration.

The flagship H3 rocket carrying the MMX is scheduled to lift off from the Tanegashima Space Center on Tuesday at 4:41 am, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

“Being part of such a grand mission is incredibly exciting,” said Makoto Arita, JAXA’s H3 rocket project manager, to reporters two days before launch.

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