Topline
As the new space race ramps up, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency announced a pivotal step in the hunt for evidence of life on Mars, which, if executed, means Japan could attain Martian soil samples and have the opportunity to study those samples for signs of life years before the U.S. and China.
JEZERO CRATER, MARS – FEBRUARY 18: In this handout image provided by NASA, still image is part of … [+]
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Key Facts
The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency said on Thursday it would launch a robot explorer in 2024 to collect soil samples from Phobos, one of Mars’ moons, and bring the samples back to Earth by 2029, the AP reported.