Japan's H3 rocket flies first deep-space mission for MMX Mars moon sample return

JAXA said on October 18 that its H3 rocket will carry out its first deep-space mission as part of the MMX project to return samples from the Martian moon Phobos. It marks H3's first flight beyond Earth orbit after earlier failures and successful commercial launches.

• H3 flies beyond Earth orbit for the first time
• MMX aims to return samples from Phobos
• JAXA announced the mission on October 18