First group of cosmonauts arrived at the International Space Station

Elon Musk is considering the possibility of creating human settlements on Mars and has already begun preparations for this. Meanwhile, NASA has landed nine spacecraft on Mars over the past five decades, and China achieved a landing in 2021. However, none of these missions have managed to bring back samples from Mars, and the idea of collecting soil from Mars's moons seemed like a distant dream. Now, Japan is taking on this task.

Japan has launched a special mission to collect soil and rock samples from Mars's moon Phobos. Scientists aim to determine how both of Mars's moons formed and what factors were behind this process. Japan has launched a space mission to bring soil and rock samples from Phobos back to Earth.

The mission, named Mars Moon Exploration (MMX) by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), involves sending a spacecraft to Mars. This spacecraft will land a small rover on Phobos to study the surface. The spacecraft will then collect at least 10 grams of soil and rock samples and return them to Earth. The mission aims to arrive on Earth by 2031.

Not only Japan but also the USA, France, Germany, and the European Space Agency are participating in this mission. Approximately 578 million dollars are allocated to this mission, and the spacecraft itself weighs about five tons. After reaching Mars, it will head to Phobos, where it will land a small rover called Idemix, jointly developed by France and Germany.

The Idemix rover is comparable in size to a microwave oven and is equipped with four wheels. It will operate on the surface of Phobos for about 100 days. Its task is to study the terrain and find a suitable landing site for the main spacecraft. Since the gravity on Phobos is very low, there is a risk that the rover will bounce after landing. Therefore, it is designed to right itself if it tips over. The rover will move very slowly, at a speed of about one millimeter per second, which will help it navigate the surface.

According to the mission plan, the main spacecraft will land on the surface of Phobos in 2028 or 2029. It will stay there for about two hours, during which time at least 10 grams of soil and rock samples will be collected using a drill and other equipment. After collecting the samples, the spacecraft will leave Phobos, fly past Mars's second satellite, Deimos, inspect it, and then return to Earth in 2030. The samples are planned to be delivered to the Australian desert in 2031.

Phobos is about 22 kilometers wide and resembles a potato. Scientists are trying to understand the formation mechanism of Phobos and Deimos. One hypothesis suggests that these moons formed from debris ejected after a large celestial body collided with Mars. Another possibility is that they were small celestial bodies captured by Mars's gravity. Scientists hope to find traces of Martian soil and rocks in the Phobos samples, which will help them understand the history of the moons' formation and possibly provide knowledge about the formation of other planets and their satellites.

In addition to Japan, China is also preparing a mission to collect samples from Mars. China plans to launch its mission in 2028, aiming to deliver samples to Earth by 2031. Furthermore, NASA is working on plans to return samples collected by its Perseverance rover on Mars. If Japan's mission is successful, scientists will be able to analyze the samples brought back from Mars's moons, which will help better understand the formation of Phobos and Deimos, as well as the history of Mars.

Exactly 63 years ago, Félicette achieved the feat of being the first cat to travel and survive a space mission. This event took place on October 18, 1963, and lasted for 13 minutes, according to the publication People this Sunday.

Félicette, a small feline with black and white fur, was found on the streets of Paris, France. She became the only cat to undertake and survive a trip into space.

Although her time outside planet Earth was brief, only 13 minutes, People magazine emphasizes that this journey was part of a crucial moment in the early days of space exploration.

Félicette's mission was launched from a base located in the Sahara Desert. The capsule carrying her reached approximately 160 kilometers above the Earth's surface, while her vital signs, such as heart rate and breathing, were rigorously monitored.

After the capsule separated from the French rocket, Félicette returned to Earth with the help of a parachute.

Months after this extraordinary experience, researchers decided to euthanize her so that studies could be conducted on her brain. In 2019, the work done by the feline received recognition, culminating in the erection of a statue in her honor in the city of Strasbourg, also in France.