Definition
Fobos‑Grunt (Russian: Фобос‑Грунт), also transliterated as Phobos‑Grunt, was a Russian interplanetary spacecraft launched in November 2011 with the primary objective of returning a sample of regolith from Phobos, one of Mars’ moons, to Earth.
Overview
The mission was developed by the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) in collaboration with several scientific institutes. It was launched aboard a Soyuz‑2.1a rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on 8 November 2011. After insertion into a low‑Earth orbit, the spacecraft was to execute a series of propulsion burns to depart Earth, perform a Mars‑orbit insertion, rendezvous with Phobos, collect surface material using a drilling mechanism, and return the sample to Earth aboard a re‑entry capsule. Communication with the spacecraft was lost shortly after launch, and the spacecraft failed to perform the trans‑Mars injection burn. It subsequently re‑entered Earth’s atmosphere on 15 January 2012, burning up largely intact. The mission was the first Russian attempt at a planetary sample‑return and its failure prompted extensive review of Russia’s deep‑space capabilities.
Etymology/Origin
The name combines “Fobos,” the Russian transliteration of Phobos, the Greek god of fear and the name of Mars’ larger moon, with “Grunt,” the Russian word (грунт) meaning “soil” or “ground.” The compound thus conveys “Phobos soil,” reflecting the mission’s goal of retrieving lunar regolith.
Characteristics
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Spacecraft type | Sample‑return probe (main bus + Phobos Sample Return Module) |
| Manufacturer | Russian Space Research Institute (IKI) and Lavochkin Association |
| Launch vehicle | Soyuz‑2.1a with Fregat upper stage |
| Launch site | Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site 31/6 |
| Mass at launch | Approximately 13 tonnes (including fuel) |
| Intended trajectory | Low‑Earth orbit → Trans‑Mars injection → Mars orbit insertion → Phobos rendezvous → Sample acquisition → Earth return |
| Planned instruments | High‑resolution camera, infrared spectrometer, LIDAR, drilling mechanism, sample containment system, radio science experiment |
| Intended sample return capsule | Small re‑entry capsule designed to survive Earth atmospheric entry and be recovered on the ground |
| Mission status | Failed; lost contact on 12 November 2011, re‑entered Earth on 15 January 2012 |
Related Topics
- Phobos (moon) – The larger of Mars’ two moons, target of the sample‑return attempt.
- Mars sample‑return missions – Planned or executed missions to collect and return Martian material, such as NASA‑ESA joint Mars Sample Return.
- Roscosmos – The Russian state space corporation responsible for the mission’s development and launch.
- Soyuz‑2.1a rocket – The launch vehicle used for Fobos‑Grunt.
- Sample‑return technology – Includes drilling, containment, and re‑entry capsule systems employed in planetary science missions.
Note: All information presented is derived from publicly available sources up to the knowledge cutoff date.