Japan readies Martian moon mission to uncover origins of life | South China Morning Post            (https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371304/japan-readies-martian-moon-mission-uncover-origins-life)                                   (../../../../../static/manifest.json)  (../../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/favicon.ico)  (../../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/icons/scmp-icon-192x192.png)  (../../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/icons/scmp-icon-256x256.png)  (../../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/icons/scmp-icon-192x192.png)  (../../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/icons/scmp-icon-192x192.png)  (https://amp.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371304/japan-readies-martian-moon-mission-uncover-origins-life)  (https://apigw.scmp.com)  (https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com)  (https://cdn.i-scmp.com)  (https://img.i-scmp.com)  (https://cdn1.i-scmp.com)  (https://cdn2.i-scmp.com)  (https://cdn3.i-scmp.com)  (https://cdn4.i-scmp.com)  (https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com)  (https://ad-tech.scmp.com)  (https://c.amazon-adsystem.com)  (https://cdn.keywee.co)  (https://cdn.mouseflow.com)  (https://cdn.opecloud.com)  (https://cdn.petametrics.com)  (https://connect.facebook.com)  (https://fonts.gstatic.com)  (https://js-sec.indexww.com)  (https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net)  (https://widgets.scmp.com)  (https://www.doubleclickbygoogle.com)  (https://www.facebook.com)  (https://www.google-analytics.com)  (https://www.googleadservices.com)  (https://www.google.com)  (https://www.googletagmanager.com)  (../../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/4a9777f1b0526d0c.css)  (../../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/024d37ad54557c14.css)  (../../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/127ae35205af64c7.css)  (../../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/bd5ebf0790610eb8.css)  (../../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/a070c9513bea1763.css)    (../../../../../../fonts.googleapis.com/icon@family=Material+Icons&display=swap.css)  (../../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/4a9777f1b0526d0c.css)  (../../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/024d37ad54557c14.css)  (../../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/127ae35205af64c7.css)  (../../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/bd5ebf0790610eb8.css)  (../../../../../../assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/css/a070c9513bea1763.css)       (https://www.scmp.com/?module=masthead&pgtype=article)                                   Advertisement     (https://www.scmp.com/topics/japan?module=breadcrumb&pgtype=article) Japan  (https://www.scmp.com/news/asia?module=breadcrumb&pgtype=article) Asia   (https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia?module=breadcrumb&pgtype=article) East Asia    Japan readies Martian moon mission to uncover origins of life   The uncrewed Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe could also help lay the groundwork for eventual human exploration       3-MIN READ 3-MIN                                 Listen            (The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency unveils a spacecraft for its Martian Moons eXploration mission at the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane, southwestern Japan, on August 13. Photo: AP)       (The Exploration and Return Modules of the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft, at the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane, Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, on August 13. Photo: AFP)                                 (https://www.scmp.com/author/agence-france-presse-1) Agence France-Presse   Published: 6:35pm, 18 Oct 2026     Japanese scientists are readying a mission to Mars’s moons to retrieve samples that could help unlock the origins of the Solar System and life on Earth, in what aims to be the first round trip to the Martian region. The uncrewed Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe, a collaboration with US and European space agencies as well as numerous universities and tech companies, could also help lay the groundwork for eventual human exploration. The flagship H3 rocket carrying the MMX is set to blast-off from the Tanegashima Space Center Tuesday at 4.41am, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).  “Being able to be involved in such a grand mission is incredibly exciting,” Makoto Arita, project manager of JAXA’s H3 rocket team, told reporters two days before the launch.                                       Select Voice           Select Speed     (0.8)    0.8x  (0.9)    0.9x  (1)     1.0x  (1.1)    1.1x  (1.2)    1.2x  (1.5)    1.5x  (1.75)    1.75x      00:00 (0)  00:00             1x  AI-generated voice