Japan to launch world-first mission to moon of Mars

What happened: Japan's H3 rocket is set to launch JAXA's Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe from Tanegashima Space Center, aiming to orbit, land on, and collect material from Mars's moon Phobos. Key numbers: Launch at 4:41 am (1941 GMT Monday). Arrival near Mars around August next year. Why it matters: The mission aims to be the first round trip to the Martian region and will test whether Phobos could serve as a "natural space station," which JAXA calls essential for crewed Mars exploration. It also follows NASA's cancelled sample return and China's competing timeline. Coverage: 3 outlets in 24h

Japan's H3 rocket is set to launch JAXA's Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe from Tanegashima Space Center, aiming to orbit, land on, and collect material from Mars's moon Phobos.

The mission aims to be the first round trip to the Martian region and will test whether Phobos could serve as a "natural space station," which JAXA calls essential for crewed Mars exploration. It also follows NASA's cancelled sample return and China's competing timeline.