# Japan launches mission to return samples from Mars moon

https://mins.news/en/item/106852

- Reuters, 2026-10-19 20:50 UTC
- Science
- Original: https://www.reuters.com/science/japan-launches-mission-return-samples-mars-moon-2026-10-19/?link_source=ta_bluesky_link&taid=6ad6828275a7df0001b12939

> Japan launched an uncrewed spacecraft on Tuesday toward Phobos, a moon of Mars. The mission aims to become the first to collect samples from the small rocky body and bring them back to Earth for analysis.

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