Martian‑moon samples decide origin

A returning sample from Phobos or Deimos can directly test whether Mars’s moons are captured asteroids or the debris of an impact on Mars, resolving longstanding formation models. That single dataset will recalibrate models of small‑body formation, influence mission design for Mars/moon exploration, and affect rules for resources and planetary protection. — If MMX returns definitive samples, policymakers and space agencies will need to update planetary‑protection rules, resource claims, and long‑term exploration strategies based on a changed scientific picture of how moons and satellites form.