Japan prepares MMX launch to bring samples of Phobos back to Earth

Japan's MMX spacecraft is due to launch toward Mars's moons from Tanegashima at 22:41 in Moscow on Monday. Liftoff aboard an H3 rocket is scheduled for early Tuesday morning in Japan.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency confirmed a launch time of 04:41 in Tokyo. MMX is designed to study Phobos and Deimos and return samples to Earth.

The spacecraft is expected to reach Mars in August 2027. Before the main spacecraft lands on Phobos, it will deploy the IDEFIX rover to examine the surface and help prepare the sampling operation.

The main spacecraft carries seven scientific instruments. They include the MIRS infrared spectrometer, the LIDAR laser altimeter and NASA's MEGANE gamma-ray spectrometer.

The samples' composition should help establish whether the moons were asteroids captured by Mars's gravity or formed from debris following a collision with a large celestial body.

The mission aims to return at least 10 grams of material. Its sample capsule is due to land in Australia in 2031 before the samples are transferred to Japan for study.