Mission blasts off for Mars to grab a piece of its moon

A spacecraft has launched from Japan headed for Mars' moon Phobos, where it will attempt to grab some moondust and bring it back to Earth.

If it is successful, this will become the first time a sample has been returned from Mars or its moons to be analysed in laboratories here on Earth.

The spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at Phobos in August 2027.

It is hoped that the Mars Moons Exploration (MMX) mission, which is led by the Japanese Space Agency, will solve the mystery of how Mars's moons formed.

Prof Sara Russell, from the Natural History Museum, who is the MMX mission's deputy for sample analysis, said: "There hasn't yet been a successful mission to go to Phobos and bring a bit back to Earth.

"I think this is an incredibly ambitious and fun mission," she said.

There are only three moons in the inner Solar System: our own Moon, and two around Mars, which are called Phobos and Deimos.

Source: BBC News World RSS (Open Press / Full Text)