KAGOSHIMA PREF. ¨C Japanese scientists are readying a mission to Mars¡¯ moons to retrieve samples that may unlock the origins of the solar system and life on Earth, although a rival Chinese mission aims to make it back first.
The unmanned Martian Moons eXploration (MMX), set to blast off from Tanegashima Space Center in the coming months, could also lay the groundwork for humans visiting the red planet.
The spacecraft, revealed to media last Thursday, will stay in Mars¡¯ orbit for around three years and will attempt to land on Phobos.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.