Japan’s MMX Mission Wants to Bring Martian Moon Samples Back to Earth

Key points

• Japan's space agency, JAXA, is sending a spacecraft to Phobos, one of Mars' two moons, to collect samples. The Martian Moons eXploration mission is due to launch from Tanegashima Space Center and reach Mars after almost a year of travel.
• Scientists want to know whether the moons are captured asteroids or debris from an ancient collision. The spacecraft aims to bring at least 10 grams of material back to Earth by 2031.
• Researchers hope the samples will also shed light on how Mars and the wider solar system evolved.