# Japan launches mission to explore Mars’ moons and return samples

https://mins.news/en/item/107091

- France 24, 2026-10-20 01:29 UTC
- Science
- Original: https://www.france24.com/en/technology/20261020-japan-launches-mission-to-explore-mars-moons-and-bring-back-samples

> Japan launched a spacecraft on Tuesday for a five-year mission to explore Phobos and Deimos and bring back samples for the first time. The $578 million project aims to return dust, soil and rocks to Earth in 2031, potentially offering clues about the moons’ formation and the origins of life.

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- [Japan launches mission to return samples from Mars moon](https://mins.news/en/item/107219) — CGTN, 2026-10-20
- [Mission launches from Japan to collect a sample from Mars’s moon](https://mins.news/en/video/107035) — BBC News, 2026-10-19
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