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FORGOTTEN HISTORY: Phobos | History Defined

Japan's audacious sample-return mission to the Mars moon Phobos has made it to the launch pad

The complex MMX mission aims to shed light on the origins of Mars' two tiny moons, Phobos and Deimos, bringing Phobos material back to Earth in 2031.

Space

Does Mars have a moon?

Mars is smaller than Earth, but does it have any moons?

LiveScience

Japan tests its Mars moon sample-return probe ahead of 2026 launch (photo)

Japan is putting its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft through a series of tests ahead of its launch to Mars next year.

Space

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Tiny Mars moon Deimos gets a rare close-up, thanks to Europe's Hera asteroid probe (photos)

Europe's HERA mission has taken a good look at Mars and its moon Deimos on its way to explore the aftermath of the DART impact in the Didymos–Dimorphos asteroid system.

Space

Mars may have made its 2 moons by ripping an asteroid apart

A new theory proposes that Phobos and Deimos resulted from the wreckage of a larger asteroid that wandered too close to Mars and was ripped apart.

Space

Perseverance rover watches 'googly eye' solar eclipse from Mars (video)

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover was treated to a 'googly eye' solar eclipse on Sept. 30 as the planet's moon Phobos passed in front of the sun.

Space

Perseverance rover watches a solar eclipse on Mars (photos)

On Sept. 30, NASA's Perseverance rover turned its eyes toward the sky and photographed a solar eclipse from Mars, capturing the tiny moon Phobos as it transited the sun.

Space

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Behold! 1st-ever photo of Earth and Mars' moon Phobos captured from Red Planet

NASA's Curiosity rover has captured a spectacular sight from the surface of Mars: The first-ever photo of Earth alongside the Red Planet's moon Phobos.

Space

'Space potato' spotted by NASA Mars satellite is actually something much cooler

The starchy-looking moon Phobos, destined to crash into Mars' surface, has been revealed in new detail by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The 'space potato' image was recently shared on NASA's Instagram.

LiveScience

Lost photos suggest Mars' mysterious moon Phobos may be a trapped comet in disguise

Previously unpublished photos of Mars' moon Phobos hint that the mysterious satellite may actually be a trapped comet — or perhaps just a piece of one, along with its twin moon Deimos.

LiveScience

This little rover will ride shotgun on Japan's ambitious Mars moon sample-return mission

The small device will be headed on a long journey to the Red Planet's neighborhood.

Space

Perseverance Rover Captures Stunning Images of Phobos Eclipsing the Sun

NASA's Perseverance rover captures stunning images of the moon Phobos eclipsing the sun on Mars. Learn more about this rare celestial event.

Top News

Solar eclipse on Mars! Perseverance rover sees Martian moon Phobos cross the sun in epic video

The NASA Perseverance rover recently turned its gaze to the sky to spot a solar eclipse. The asteroid-sized Phobos passed in front of the sun on Feb. 8, from the perspective of Mars.

Space

In zodiacal dust mystery, PRL Ahmedabad study points to a familiar source

Jayesh Pabari, a scientist at PRL Ahmedabad, has studied the NASA Juno spacecraft's solar panels, which suffered minor damage due to dust particles, and found that Mars's moons may be the source of the interplanetary dust that produces zodiacal light.

The Hindu

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Space

Japan delays MMX Mars moon sample-return mission to 2026

Japan has postponed the launch of a mission seeking to bring samples of a Martian moon to Earth until 2026, due to problems with the nation's new H3 rocket.

LiveScience

Missions to the moon, Mars, Jupiter and more: These are the coolest space missions in 2024

Ambitious new missions to the moon, Venus, Jupiter and more are planned for 2024. Here is a preview of the exciting year in space ahead.

The Hindu

From the moon to Europa, six space missions to be excited for in 2024

Explore six of the most exciting space missions of 2024, including NASA's Artemis program, Europa Clipper, VIPER, Lunar Trailblazer, JAXA’s MMX, and Hera.

Inverse

A Planetary Scientist Reveals the 6 Biggest Space Missions in 2024

Several new missions under NASA’s Artemis plan and Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative will target the Moon.

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Salon

Space missions slated for launch in 2024

A planetary scientist shares six of the space missions she's most excited to follow this year

The Conversation

From the Moon's south pole to an ice-covered ocean world, several exciting space missions are slated for launch in 2024

The year 2023 proved to be an important one for space missions, with NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission returning a sample from an asteroid and India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission exploring the lunar south pole, and 2024 is shaping up to be another exciting year for space exploration.

Inverse

An Enduring Mystery About Mars’ Smallest Moons Could Finally Be Solved

The origin of two of Mars' smallest moons is a matter of much debate. But this new mission might finally resolve it.

The Hindu

The longstanding mystery of Mars’ moons – and the mission that could solve it

the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will launch a mission, named “Martian Moon eXploration”, to Phobos and Deimos in September 2024. The mission will be carried by a newly designed rocket, the H-3, which is still under development.

Space

Japan may delay its Mars moon sampling mission MMX due to rocket problems

Japan’s ambitious mission to explore the two mini moons of Mars could be facing a lengthy delay as JAXA's new H3 rocket, which will launch MMX, failed on its debut flight in March.

The Conversation

The longstanding mystery of Mars' moons – and the mission that could solve it

The two small moons of Mars, Phobos (about 22km in diameter) and Deimos (about 13km in diameter), have been puzzling scientists for decades, with their origin remaining a matter of debate. Some have proposed that they may be made up of residual debris produced from a planet or large asteroid…

The Canberra Times

What hit Phobos?

The solar system can be a violent place.

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Organisations

the European Space Agency

the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

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