Space

Deep Dive: Japan launches historic MMX sample-return mission to Mars' moon Phobos (video)

Ran in the 6:05 PM edition of LivePulse, Monday, October 19, 2026
Original reporting: Space.com · Josh Dinner, 2026-10-19

Japan's groundbreaking mission to Mars is officially underway, headed to the Red Planet's mysterious moons Phobos and Deimos for a historic sample-return attempt. The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission launched today (Oct. 19) from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan, riding an H3 rocket that lifted off from Pad-2 at Tanegashima's Yoshinobu Launch Complex at 3:41 p.m.

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