# Japan's MMX mission aims to return Martian moon samples to Earth

Japan's MMX mission is designed to travel to the Martian moon Phobos, collect surface samples, and bring them back to Earth. If successful, it would provide rare material that could help scientists understand the origins of Mars and its moons.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Technology
- [Wired](https://www.wired.com/story/japan-audacious-mmx-mission-sample-martian-moon/) — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 18:45:06 +0000
- [Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/10/japan-launches-mission-to-bring-home-a-piece-of-the-martian-moon-phobos/) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 05:59:56 +0000

### World
- [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/10/20/japan-launches-historic-mission-to-bring-back-mars-moon-samples?traffic_source=rss) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 04:08:33 +0000