25 October 2026 · The Guardian
Japan's Historic Mission to Martian Moon Phobos
Japan plans to launch a spacecraft to collect samples from Phobos, a moon of Mars. This mission aims to explore the origins of the moons and life in the solar system.
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Narration includes the headline and summary.
Adapted from The Guardian, 18 October 2026, and rewritten at three levels by Newslish. Newslish is not affiliated with the source. Read the original.
Key vocabulary
explore verb
to travel through an area to learn about it
“We will explore the new park this weekend.”
origin noun
the point where something begins or comes from
“The origin of the river is in the mountains.”
sample noun
a small part taken from a larger whole
“I took a sample of the cake to taste.”
mission noun
an important task or goal
“The mission was to find new planets.”
scientist noun
a person who studies or works in science
“The scientist discovered a new species of plant.”
Quick quiz
01What is the main goal of Japan's mission?
02What does the word 'explore' mean in the text?
03How wide is Phobos?
04When is the spacecraft expected to return to Earth?
Discussion
What do you think about Japan's mission to collect samples from Phobos? In your answer, use the words 'explore' and 'origin'.