A space mission is scheduled to launch on Monday from Japan with the aim of collecting a sample from Phobos, one of Mars' moons, and returning it to Earth. The Mars Moons Exploration (MMX) mission, led by the Japanese Space Agency, seeks to bring back 10g of moon dust.
If successful, this would mark the first time a sample has been returned from Mars or its moons for analysis on Earth. The spacecraft is expected to reach Phobos in August 2027.
The MMX mission intends to deploy a small rover to explore Phobos' terrain before the spacecraft itself touches down. A robotic arm and two samplers will then collect moon dust, which will be packed into a capsule for its return to Earth in 2031, landing in the Woomera desert of South Australia.
Scientists hope the sample will resolve the debate over the formation of Mars' moons, with two main theories suggesting either a dramatic impact on Mars or the capture of wandering asteroids. Prof Sara Russell, from the Natural History Museum and deputy for sample analysis on the MMX mission, stated that analysis of the sample's chemistry and mineral composition should quickly reveal which hypothesis is correct. Researchers also anticipate the possibility of finding grains of Mars itself within the Phobos sample.