The Russians are planning an unmanned, round-trip mission to the larger of the two Martian moons:

If the mission is successful, Fobos-Grunt will be the first probe to explore the Earth-Phobos-Earth space highway. The one-ton probe will enter orbit around Mars in August or September 2010 (assuming Russia’s schedule does not slip) and begin studying Phobos remotely. Once the mission scientists have selected a good landing spot, the spacecraft will touch down on the satellite’s surface sometime in March or April 2011. Then Fobos-Grunt will extend a robot arm and start collecting samples of regolith—surface soil and rocks—for return to Earth. The main body of the probe will serve as a launchpad for the small return module and remain permanently on Phobos. When the 233-pound return module reaches Earth in June or July 2012, it will drop off a soccer-ball-size capsule containing a thumb-size canister of precious Phobos soil; finally, the canister will make a hard landing in a remote region of Kazakhstan.

Why go to Phobos? Well, hey, it's there. We know that the moons of Mars are on our long-range itinerary for exploring the solar system, anyway, so why wait? A scoop of Phobos soil can teach us a lot. Plus, as the linked article points out, this handily placed moon might prove very useful in eventual settlement of the planet below, so we might as well get acquainted.

Plus there's this: thanks to Phobos' low gravity, a round trip to the Martian satellite can be achieved using only about 80% of the thrust required for a round trip to the moon. Imagine being in Kansas City and you want to take an exotic vacation. Airfare to Indianapolis is $1000, but it costs only $800 to go to Istanbul!

Very clever and thrifty, those Russians.