oseen · source-linked reporting

JAXA launches the Martian Moons eXploration spacecraft from the Tanegashima Space Center toward Phobos aboard

Japanese space program — JAXA launches the Martian Moons eXploration spacecraft from the Tanegashima Space Center toward Phobos aboard an H3 rocket, aiming to collect at least 10 grams of surface material

Published October 20, 2026· Updated October 28, 2026·1 min read

Image: “H-IIA_F15_launching_IBUKI.jpg” via Wikimedia Commons by Naritama (NARITA Masahiro), CC BY 2.1 jp. Images shown are not owned by Orubus, Oseen or any of its related companies — all rights remain with the stated owners and licensors.

Context: Japanese space program.

JAXA launches the Martian Moons eXploration spacecraft from the Tanegashima Space Center toward Phobos aboard an H3 rocket, aiming to collect at least 10 grams of surface material from the Martian moon and return the samples to Earth in 2031. [https://www.reuters.com/science/japan-launches-mission-return-samples-mars-moon-2026-10-19/ (Reuters)]

Event summary via Wikipedia Current Events (2026-10-20).