Mars sample-return mission gained from the "Hayabusa 2" and SLIM missions. Of the two moons, Phobos's orbit is closer to Mars and its surface may have adhered particles blasted from the red planet; thus the Phobos samples collected by MMX may contain material originating from Mars itself. Japan has also shown interest in participating in an international Mars sample-return mission. Since it is currently unknown whether life forms exist on Mars, the mission could potentially transfer viable organisms resulting in back contamination—the introduction of extraterrestrial organisms into Earth's biosphere. The scientific consensus is that the potential for large-scale effects, either through pathogenesis or
The Secret of the Martian Moons that unlocks Mars’ secret. A political controversy is raging on Earth as to whether or not to continue to support the Martian outpost, where Nelson’s father is research chief. Those in favor point to the marvelous machines found on Mars, any one of which could advance civilization eons, if their secret could be discovered. Going to work on the problem, Nelson finds out – in an interesting chain of events that characterizes a Mars basically like the canal-covered red planet we know it to be now – that the Martian moons Phebos (sic) and Deimos, are centers of tyrannical factions