{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 2046787,
        "msgid": "japan-sends-rocket-to-retrieve-rock-samples-from-a-moon-orbiting-mars-1792497048",
        "date": "2026-10-20 18:30:00",
        "title": "Japan Sends Rocket to Retrieve Rock Samples from a Moon Orbiting Mars",
        "author": "",
        "source": "CNBC",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Technology",
        "summary": "Japan has launched the MMX mission to collect samples from Phobos, one of Mars\u2019s moons, and return them to Earth in 2031. The mission will also study Deimos, helping scientists investigate whether the two moons are captured asteroids or debris from an ancient impact on Mars.",
        "content": "<p>Japan\u2019s space agency, JAXA, is preparing a historic mission: a\nspacecraft will land on one of Mars\u2019s moons, collect rock samples and\nbring them back to Earth. If successful, it will be the first time\nmaterial from the Martian system has been returned to Earth.<\/p>\n<p>The spacecraft, named MMX (Martian Moons eXploration), was launched\naboard an H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Centre on Monday, 19\nOctober, local time. The journey to Mars is expected to take about 10\nmonths. After reaching orbit around the Red Planet in August 2027, the\nspacecraft will not land immediately. Instead, it will spend several\nmonths orbiting Phobos, Mars\u2019s larger moon, mapping its surface and\nselecting the safest landing site.<\/p>\n<p>In late 2028 or early 2029, the spacecraft will descend slowly to\nPhobos\u2019s surface. Its gravity is extremely weak, so the landing must be\ncarefully managed to prevent the spacecraft from bouncing away. A small\nrover called IDEFIX will be deployed to observe the surface at close\nrange, measure temperatures and map the soil\u2019s composition.<\/p>\n<p>The main spacecraft will then land to collect rock samples. Two\ndifferent drilling tools will be used to ensure that at least 10 grams\nof material are collected and sealed inside the return capsule. It will\nthen fly back into orbit before descending to a second site to gather\nadditional samples.<\/p>\n<p>After three years focused on Phobos, MMX will move on to observe the\nsmaller moon, Deimos, in 2030. The aim is to compare the two moons and\ndetermine whether they share an origin or formed through separate\nevents. This could help resolve whether Mars\u2019s moons are captured\nasteroids or debris ejected from Mars in a massive impact billions of\nyears ago.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of 2030, the return module will separate from the main\nspacecraft and travel back towards Earth. The return journey is expected\nto take about eight months. The capsule containing samples from Phobos\nis scheduled to land by parachute in the Woomera region of Australia in\n2031.<\/p>\n<p>The project is being carried out in collaboration with NASA and the\nFrench and German space agencies. The returned samples will be divided\namong scientists from several countries for study.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/japan-sends-rocket-to-retrieve-rock-samples-from-a-moon-orbiting-mars-1792497048",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}