Science
Japan sets October 20 launch for Mars moon sample mission
Japan is targeting October 20 to launch a mission designed to collect a sample from Mars’s moon Phobos.
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By Kavya Iyer , Editor, Technology & Science
Published 19 Oct 2026, 4:31 PM IST
The spacecraft is expected to return material to Earth, offering researchers a closer look at the moon’s composition and history. Launch plans can change.
About the editor
Kavya Iyer — Kavya Iyer edits Technology and Science. Her desk covers digital policy, startups, cybersecurity, space research, and new scientific findings explained in plain language. Kavya checks scientific claims against published…
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