Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Japan’s ambitious mission to unlock the mysteries of Mars’ moons began its journey into deep space after a picture-perfect launch aboard the H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Centre.
The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft is set to reach the Red Planet in August 2027 before attempting to collect samples from its mysterious moon Phobos.
Led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the mission is designed to bring back material from Phobos for the first time, offering scientists a rare opportunity to investigate how Mars’ moons formed and evolved.
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WATCH JAPAN’S MMX LAUNCH
The mission marks a major step towards understanding the history of the Martian system and the early evolution of the solar system.
The spacecraft is expected to reach Mars in August 2027, after a journey of approximately 10 months. It will then begin a detailed survey of Phobos and conduct observations of Deimos, Mars’ smaller outer moon.
WHY IS PHOBOS IMPORTANT?
Phobos and Deimos remain among the least understood natural satellites in the solar system. Scientists are divided over whether the moons are asteroids captured by Mars’ gravity or debris produced by a massive impact between Mars and another celestial body.
By studying Phobos’ surface, composition, internal structure and gravity, MMX aims to help resolve this long-standing scientific debate. The spacecraft will enter a quasi-satellite orbit around Phobos, allowing it to observe the moon closely and identify suitable locations for sample collection.
MISSION TO BRING MARTIAN MOON SAMPLES TO EARTH
One of the mission’s most significant objectives is to collect at least 10 grams of surface material from Phobos and return it to Earth in 2031. The spacecraft is expected to undertake two landing operations as part of its exploration and sample-collection activities.
The mission will also deploy Idefix, a small French-German rover developed jointly by France’s space agency CNES and the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
The rover will investigate the moon’s surface, helping scientists understand its terrain and the conditions that the main spacecraft will encounter during sampling operations.
The MMX mission brings together international partners, including NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), CNES and DLR.
NASA has contributed scientific instrumentation, including the MEGANE gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer, which will help determine the elemental composition of Phobos’ surface.
After completing its observations and sample collection, the spacecraft will leave the Martian system and begin its return journey.
The sample capsule is expected to separate from the spacecraft and enter Earth’s atmosphere in 2031, with recovery planned in Australia.
If successful, MMX will deliver the first samples from a moon of Mars, potentially offering crucial clues about the origins of Phobos and Deimos, the evolution of Mars and the processes that shaped the early solar system.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
