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ArchiveLesson #212Science

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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Standard version (B1-B2)

Standard: natural English

Japan is set to launch a spacecraft on a to collect from Phobos, one of Mars' moons. This is the first of its kind and aims to the of Phobos and Deimos, the two moons of Mars. believe that studying these moons may provide clues about the of life in the solar system. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) plans to launch the spacecraft on Tuesday using a new H3 rocket. Phobos is about 27 kilometers wide and orbits Mars three times a day. The will take five years, with the spacecraft expected to return in 2031. from Phobos may help understand Mars better and support future manned missions to the planet. The spacecraft will land on Phobos and collect soil using advanced technology.

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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?

Answered 0 of 4

Discussion

What do you think about Japan's mission to collect samples from Phobos? In your answer, use the words 'explore' and 'origin'.