Takes tiny creatures along for the ride
(NEWSER) - A Russian spacecraft will depart for a Martian moon as soon as tomorrow. Its mission: to land on Phobos and collect soil to bring home to Earth, Scientific American reports. Researchers aim to learn about the moon’s development and composition. And should they discover ice or hydrated rocks, the 17-mile-long moon could be ultimately take on a new role: astronaut "base camp," writes Philip Boffey in the New York Times . The craft, called Phobos-Grunt, has some other objectives, too: It’s hauling a Chinese satellite—the country’s first Mars craft—which will orbit the planet. More»
