Launch of Japan's MMX Mission to Investigate Mars' Moons

Japan's space agency, JAXA, has successfully launched the interplanetary MMX mission aimed at exploring Mars' moons. The project, costing around $500 million, is scheduled to last approximately five years.

The main goal of the expedition is to determine the origin of Phobos and Deimos. Scientists suggest that these are either captured asteroids or fragments from an ancient collision.

As part of the program, the spacecraft will land on the surface of Phobos to collect soil samples. After a detailed study of both moons, the probe will return Martian "dirt" to Earth for laboratory analysis.

The research will help solve the scientific mystery of the origin of the Red Planet's natural satellites.