Japan to launch spacecraft to return samples from Martian moon Phobos

Japan is preparing to launch a spacecraft on the world's first mission to bring back samples from Phobos, one of the two small, potato-shaped moons orbiting Mars.

• The mission would be the first ever sample return from Phobos
• Phobos is one of Mars's two small moons
• Goal is to bring Martian moon material back to Earth