Japan Mars moons probe set for October 20 launch

Japan's space agency said Thursday that its unmanned Martian Moons eXploration probe is scheduled to launch on October 20 on a mission to collect samples from Phobos, one of Mars's moons.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said the flagship H3 rocket carrying the MMX spacecraft will lift off from Tanegashima Space Center at 4:41 am on October 20, or 1941 GMT on October 19.

The spacecraft is expected to stay in Mars's orbit for about three years and attempt to land on Phobos. It is planned to collect at least 10 grams of material from the moon's surface, while the IDEFIX rover conducts surface observations.

JAXA said the spacecraft will also observe Deimos, another Mars moon, without landing. A return capsule is meant to come back to Earth and land in Australia in 2031.

JAXA said it hopes the mission will help explain how Mars and its moons formed and support technology needed for a round trip to Mars.