Japan Prepares for Historic Round-Trip Mission to Mars' Moons

Japanese scientists are preparing the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe for a historic round-trip mission to Mars' moons, aiming to retrieve samples that could shed light on the origins of the Solar System and life on Earth. The unmanned probe, a collaboration with NASA, ESA, and other international partners, is set to launch on Tuesday (October 20, 2026, 04:41 JST / October 19, 2026, 19:41 GMT). The mission will orbit Phobos for up to three years, collect at least 10 grams of material, and also observe Deimos before returning to Earth.