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Japan's MMX mission launches to Mars moons Phobos and Deimos

Original: 🚀 Heads-up: on Monday (Oct 19, 3:41 PM ET), Japan's MMX spacecraft lifts off toward the moons of Mars. It will survey Ph

Japan's Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft is set to lift off on Monday, October 19 at 3:41 PM ET, beginning a mission to survey Phobos and Deimos, the two moons of Mars. The spacecraft will attempt the first-ever sample return from a moon other than Earth's. Interest also focuses on Phobos itself, which is slowly spiraling inward toward Mars and could one day break apart.

Why now: The launch is imminent, and the mission's first-of-its-kind sample return from another moon makes it a notable space milestone.

JAXAMMX spacecraftPhobosDeimosMars

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• 🚀 Heads-up: on Monday (Oct 19, 3:41 PM ET), Japan's MMX spacecraft lifts off toward the moons of Mars. It will survey Phobos and Deimos — and attempt the first-ever sample return from a moon other than our own. Phobos is slowly spiraling toward Mars; one day it may shatter into… · eatrics · 2

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