E62 - Japan’s Phobos Sample Return: A Launch, Then Five Years of Work — October 19, 2026

Japan's MMX mission is scheduled to launch toward Phobos, where it aims to collect material and return it to Earth in 2031. The episode also covers a reported close approach between Russian and commercial satellites and Elon Musk's pledge of SpaceX shares to American children.

Russian Satellite Kosmos-2612 Closes to Within 26 Meters of ICEYE-X36 During Pursuit — MіlіtarnyiMusk pledges 1 SpaceX share for every child in America — Axios reporting via Yahoo FinanceReturning the first samples from a Martian moon: Inside the science of Japan's bold MMX mission to Mars — Space.comJapan launching bold sample-return mission to Mars moon Phobos today: W...