日本发射火星卫星采样探测器 计划2031年返回火卫一样本

日本宇宙航空研究开发机构（JAXA）成功发射了火星卫星探测器MMX，这是一项耗资5.78亿美元的历史性任务3。探测器于当地时间10月20日凌晨4:41从日本南部种子岛航天中心升空45，搭载日本新型H3火箭3。该任务旨在从火星最大卫星火卫一采集样本并送回地球，被称为"一生一次的机会"1，将帮助揭示火星两颗微小卫星的秘密1。

探测器预计于2027年8月到达火卫一24，计划采集至少10克样本245，并将部署德法联合火星车IDEFIX进行表面探测4。样本采集预计耗时约两小时4。若一切顺利，返回舱将于2031年返回地球25，在澳大利亚伍梅拉沙漠着陆2。此次任务将成为首个从火星及其卫星采集样本进行实验室分析的任务2，这也是H3运载火箭首次执行行星际探测任务5。

JAXA科学家Mari Aida表示："I'd dreamt of this day, so I'm incredibly happy"4。NASA科学任务总监Nicky Fox则评价称："The samples from MMX will bring forth paradigm-shifting science on the Mars system for generations to come"4。

Japan successfully launched the Martian Moon eXploration (MMX) spacecraft on October 20, marking an ambitious step in planetary science exploration 345. The unmanned probe, developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), blasted off from the Tanegashima Space Center aboard the H3 rocket at 4:41 a.m. local time 45. This represents Japan's most ambitious interplanetary mission to date, with a budget of $578 million 3.

The MMX mission aims to land on Phobos, Mars's largest moon, and collect at least 10 grams of rock and soil samples to return to Earth 245. The spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at Mars in August 2027 and will bring the samples back to Earth by 2031, with the return capsule planned to land in the Woomera Desert in Australia 2. If successful, this will mark the first time samples from a Martian moon have been collected and analyzed in laboratories on Earth 2. The mission will also deploy IDEFIX, a joint Franco-German rover, to conduct surface exploration of Phobos 4.

The scientific significance of this endeavor extends beyond Mars itself. JAXA scientist Mari Aida expressed her enthusiasm, stating "I'd dreamt of this day, so I'm incredibly happy" 4. NASA's Associate Administrator for Science Mission Directorate, Nicky Fox, added that "The samples from MMX will bring forth paradigm-shifting science on the Mars system for generations to come" 4. The mission is expected to reveal secrets about Mars's two small moons and contribute to understanding the early evolution of the solar system 15.