Japan Prepares Mission to Bring Back First Sample From Mars Moon Phobos

Japan is preparing to send the MMX spacecraft to Mars’ two moons in an ambitious mission aimed at collecting the first sample from Phobos and returning it to Earth.

The mission plans to land on Phobos and gather material from its surface, with the samples due to arrive on Earth in 2031.

While the journey will take MMX to both Martian moons, the planned landing and sample collection will focus on Phobos.

Bringing material back to Earth would allow researchers to examine samples directly, extending the study of the Martian moon beyond observations made from afar.