Japan's MMX mission will launch on October 19 to collect the first soil samples from Phobos, the mysterious Martian moon.

The mission's goal is to retrieve samples from the moon's surface and bring them back to Earth. Scientists hope the material will reveal the moon's composition and shed light on the early solar system.

Phobos is believed to be a captured asteroid, according to NASA. Understanding its geology could answer long-standing questions about how the Martian moons formed.

The samples will be studied by scientists around the world. The mission is being described as an audacious space heist because of the technical difficulty involved.

Japan has a strong record in sample-return missions. Its Hayabusa missions brought material back from asteroids, paving the way for this more ambitious attempt."" The mission will also survey Deimos, the other Martian moon. Scientists worldwide are preparing to analyze the samples. A successful return would be a landmark for planetary science.