July 12, 1988: Phobos 2 launches

On July 12, 1988, the Soviet Union launched Phobos 2, the second of two Mars-bound probes aimed at studying the Red Planet's moons, Phobos and Deimos, along with the Sun and the broader interplanetary environment. This mission was a follow-up to Phobos 1, which mysteriously lost contact before achieving its objectives. Phobos 2 carried 25 sophisticated instruments, including detectors and spectrometers, to gather unprecedented data. Unfortunately, Phobos 2 also suffered communication issues and never fully completed its mission, adding to the mystery surrounding its predecessor. This launch marked a significant step in the Soviet space program's efforts to explore the Martian system.