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Japan plans first mission to collect rocks from Mars moon
The Japanese spacecraft is planned to return its samples by capsule splashdown off Australia in 2031; a long trip for under half an ounce.
On air: Gloria Vance and Hank Ledger on BBN OvernightPublished
At a glance
- First reported by Breitbart: “Japan Plans First Mission to Collect Rocks from Moons of Mars”.
- Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 12:30 AM ET on BBN Overnight, by Gloria Vance and Hank Ledger.
- Topics: Mars, Japan.
- BBN covered this story before: ExoMars orbiter and Schiaparelli lander reached Mars on this day (October 19).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorGood to have you with us. Here's what's happening.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorJapan's space agency is sending a spacecraft toward Phobos, a moon of Mars, to bring back the first rock and soil samples from there.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe lander is about the size of a case of beer, and it will be dropped from under three hundred fifty feet to bounce gently off the surface.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe whole haul will weigh less than half an ounce.
The story so far
- Japan's MMX mission aims to return samples from Mars moon Phobos · Space.com
- Swift at Chiefs game, Mars moon mission, priest killed in Ecuador · Yahoo
- NASA's Mars rover passes Opportunity's driving record · FOX Weather
- Japan launches mission to grab a piece of Mars's moon · BBC
- Japan launches mission to collect rocks from Mars's moon Phobos · The Guardian
- ExoMars orbiter and Schiaparelli lander reached Mars on this day · Space.com
- Japan plans first mission to collect rocks from Mars moon (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 · the World archive · all months
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