A Russian mission to the Martian moon Phobos, launching in 2020, would return samples from Phobos that contain bits and pieces of Mars itself. A new study calculates how much Martian material is on the surface of Phobos and how deep it is likely to go.
April 2nd, 2004
Mini-mission idea for Mars’ moons
British scientists want to send two mini-spacecraft to explore Phobos and Deimos, the mysterious moons of Mars. The satellites, which are thought to be captured asteroids, have never received a direct mission – although passing US probes have taken images of them.