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Japan Sends MMX toward Mars

The mission aims to collect soil from Phobos.

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Space news editorial illustration for Japan Launches a Mission to Bring Back Soil from a Mars Moon

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has , a to and its . It on 20 .

The to from the to in 2031. It has not .

, and a are . The the , . The on 19 in and 20 in the .

Source: Sources checked 26 October 2026.

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Try 2 questions about this story, then explain one idea in your own words. Check the text whenever you need to.

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Read and understand · 1/2Which milestone was already complete?

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Launch. The source confirms launch while later mission stages remain planned.

Clue: Japan has launched MMX, a spacecraft going to Mars and its moons. It left Japan on October 20 local time.

Read and understand · 2/2Why can 19 and 20 October both describe the launch?

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They refer to different time zones. The same instant can fall on different local calendar dates.

Clue: Launch, landing and returning a sample are separate steps. The report confirmed the first step, while later steps remained goals. The launch fell on 19 October in Central European summer time and 20 October in Japan because the places use different time zones.

Your turn

Explain why a launch report and a sample-return report would confirm different achievements.

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A launch report confirms departure. Sample return would require later collection and delivery, so launch success alone does not prove it.

Your answer can be different. Give a reason and use your own words.

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