Japan launches unprecedented mission to bring back samples from Mars’ moon phobos

A Japanese spacecraft rocketed toward Mars on Tuesday on an unprecedented quest to explore the planet’s mysterious moons and bring back samples. Five space agencies have joined forces for the five-year mission, which will attempt to land a robotic prospector and a rover on Phobos, the larger and closer of Mars’ two pint-sized moons. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, which is leading the effort, launched the spacecraft before dawn from the main spaceport on Tanegashima Island. Officials declared success an hour later, when the spacecraft separated as planned from the rocket’s upper stage. Flight controllers burst into applause, shaking hands and embracing each other.