U.S. scientists believe that an attempt to repeat Russia's failed Fobos-Grunt (Phobos Ground) project could be highly beneficial. The surface of the Martian satellite Phobos is covered with fragments of the Red Planet. If the Russian space vehicle had reached the surface of the satellite, it would have brought samples of materials from two celestial bodies at once. Fragments of Mars found themselves on the satellite, after they were thrown out of the atmosphere during the fall of meteorites.
Automatic interplanetary station Fobos-Grunt was launched on the night of November 9, 2011. Due to engine failure, the station remained in orbit and fell to the ground on 15 January. The cost of the mission was estimated at 5 billion rubles.
Officially, Fobos-Grunt 2 project has not been approved yet.