The test launch of the Phobos-Grunt spacecraft was originally scheduled for 2009, but was postponed for technical reasons. The Phobos-Grunt spacecraft will be sent to the surface of Phobos, and then return to the Earth with soil samples.
A Chinese micro-satellite, YH-1, the country's first Mars probe, will also be carried by the Phobos-Grunt spacecraft to the Martian orbit, stated the Itar-Tass news agency. The Chinese deep space research probe will start a Mars research program that will include study of water evaporation on the planet. Additionally, Phobos-Grunt will carry seeds and particular species of bacteria, fungi, maxillopoda, fish and chironomids, which will help resolve the problem of planetary quarantine. The Mars mission was expected to last about 330 days.