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NASA-backed mission aims to land on Mars moon, bring samples home

The mission would land on a moon of Mars, collect samples and carry them back to Earth, a very long delivery route; the shipping is brutal.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on Late Night BBN
Published 11:35 PM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026

From the show

First reported by USA Today: “NASA-backed mission aims to land on Mars moon, bring samples home”.
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 11:35 PM ET on Late Night BBN, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.
Topics: Mars.
BBN covered this story before: Test footage shows a SkyFall-style helicopter lifting off indoors (October 15).

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentA NASA-backed mission is aiming to land on a moon of Mars and bring samples back to Earth, which is a very long way to go for a scoop of dirt.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentBro, it's a souvenir run to another planet's moon. I want a tote bag and a little magnet.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe samples could help show where that moon came from, and that's real science. A magnet is not.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA magnet is a tiny moon you keep on your fridge.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThat's going on my list.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentAnd if the dirt turns out to be boring, can we return it to the moon for store credit?