Japanese probe heads for Mars' moon Phobos to collect samples

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency JAXA has launched the MMX (Martian Moons eXploration) mission to Mars' moon Phobos. The spacecraft is to collect soil samples and bring them back to Earth.

If successful, it will be the first time in history that samples from Mars or its moons have been returned for study in laboratories on Earth.

The probe is due to reach Phobos in August 2027. Scientists hope the mission will help explain how the moons of Mars were formed.

There are only three natural moons in the inner Solar System: our Moon and the two moons of Mars, Phobos, about 20 km across, and Deimos, about 10 km.