Mmastodon ScienceSpace first seen 13 h ago, last 11 h ago, peak #5

Japan's MMX mission launches for Mars moon Phobos

Original: 🚀 oddquark // Space Watch — 2026-10-25 Japan's MMX is on its way to Mars! It will land on Phobos, grab samples, and brin

Japan's Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft is on its way to Mars, with plans to land on the larger moon Phobos, collect surface samples, and return them to Earth in what would be the first sample round trip from the Martian system. Space enthusiasts are celebrating the launch, calling the mission to the lumpy Martian moon 'peak science'.

Why now: JAXA's ambitious Phobos sample-return mission has just launched, marking a major milestone in Mars exploration.

JAXAMMXPhobosMars

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• 🚀 oddquark // Space Watch — 2026-10-25 Japan's MMX is on its way to Mars! It will land on Phobos, grab samples, and bring them home, the first round trip from the Martian system. Lumpy space potato moon sample return is peak science. 🚀🔴 🔗 https://www.… · oddquark@vivaldi.net · 2

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