How UK scientists are helping the MMX space mission grab the best sample of soil from Mars’ moon Phobos

By Chrysa Avdellidou, Lecturer in Planetary Science, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester

Mars has two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, but their origins remain uncertain. Were they asteroids captured by Mars’ gravity, or did they form from debris following a giant impact on the planet?

Japan’s Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission aims to solve this mystery by collecting samples of soil from Phobos, the largest of the two moons. Laboratory experiments in the UK are helping prepare scientists to interpret its findings.

MMX launched successfully on October 19 atop an H3 rocket from Tanegashima…

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