Japan's long-planned mission to Mars's moons is on its way. CBS News reports that Japan has launched its ambitious robotic mission to the Martian moon Phobos, with the MMX probe expected to collect soil samples that will shed light on the mysterious origin of the red planet's two moons, Phobos and Deimos. Earlier headlines had said the launch was coming, and today's report says it has happened.
The origin of the moons is a puzzle. One theory is that they are asteroids captured by Mars's gravity, and another is that they formed from debris thrown into orbit by a giant impact. Samples from the surface could help distinguish between these ideas, since captured asteroids and impact debris might have different compositions. The mission is designed to bring the samples back to Earth for analysis.
I have only seen the summary, so I cannot give the arrival date, the landing plan or the quantity of material that will be collected. Sample-return missions are long and difficult, with many stages that must all succeed, and they usually take years. Japan has experience with sample-return missions from asteroids, which is one reason the project is considered credible.
For many readers, space missions can feel distant, but they have practical benefits, including new technology, training for engineers and inspiration for students. The mission also shows how science is a global enterprise, even when led by a national space agency. If you want to follow the mission, look for updates from the Japanese space agency and for scientific analysis after the samples return. In the meantime, a successful launch is a milestone worth celebrating.
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