Science | 22 October 2026
The story in brief
Japan has launched a spacecraft towards Mars.
It plans to collect samples, which are small amounts of rock and soil, from Phobos, one of Mars' moons.
The samples will be brought back to Earth for scientists to study.
Who is involved?
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Japan's space agency: The government organisation that runs Japan's space missions.
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French and German space agencies: Organisations that helped build a small robot for the mission.
What happened?
On 20 October, Japan launched the spacecraft from a space centre in southern Japan.
The spacecraft is travelling towards Mars.
When it arrives, a small robot with wheels will explore the surface of Phobos.
The robot will help scientists find a safe place for the main spacecraft to land.
The spacecraft will then try to collect samples.
What is the background?
Mars has two small moons.
The larger one is called Phobos. It is about 22 kilometres wide.
Scientists are still trying to understand how these moons formed.
No spacecraft has successfully brought samples from Mars or its moons back to Earth.
Why does it matter?
The samples may help scientists understand how Phobos formed.
They could also help scientists learn more about the history of Mars.
What happens next?
The spacecraft is expected to reach Mars in 2027.
If the mission succeeds, the samples will return to Earth in 2031.
The samples are expected to land in the Australian desert.