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An ambitious space exploration project is set to depart this Monday, marking a significant milestone in astronomical history. Led by the Japanese Space Agency, the Mars Moons Exploration (MMX) mission aims to achieve a feat never before accomplished: retrieving a physical sample from Phobos, the larger of Mars’ two moons. If successful, this venture will provide the first-ever Martian material for direct scientific analysis in terrestrial laboratories. The spacecraft is scheduled to reach the Martian system by August 2027. Upon arrival, it will conduct extensive research on the local environment before concentrating on Phobos. Both Phobos and its smaller counterpart, Deimos, are frequently compared to lumpy potatoes due to their irregular shapes. Phobos, which is merely twenty kilometres wide, presents unique technical difficulties for the mission. Its diminutive size means it possesses very little gravity, the force that attracts objects toward one another. Consequently, there is almost no pull to keep a vehicle stable on its surface. This challenge is further complicated by the moon’s proximity to Mars, whose immense gravitational pull threatens to disrupt landing operations. To navigate these hazards, the main spacecraft will deploy a small robotic rover to investigate the rocky landscape. The rover’s primary objective is to identify a secure landing site for the main vessel. Once safely landed, a robotic arm will be utilized to collect approximately ten grams of lunar dust. While this quantity may appear negligible, scientists emphasize that even microscopic grains are capable of revealing crucial data. These samples could finally resolve the long-standing debate regarding the moons’ origins. One hypothesis proposes that a massive collision with Mars created debris that eventually formed the moons, while another suggests they are simply asteroids trapped by the planet’s gravity. The collected material will be stored in a specialized capsule, which is expected to land in the Australian desert in 2031. By examining this ancient dust, researchers hope to gain a deeper understanding of the early solar system’s evolution.

1. What is the primary objective of the MMX mission described in the text?

• A.To prove that humans can eventually live on Mars.
• B.To bring Phobos closer to Earth for better observation.
• C.To obtain physical material from the Martian system for the first time.
• D.To build an industrial base for future space travel.

2. The text mentions that Phobos is often compared to a potato because

• A.of its chemical composition and texture.
• B.it has an uneven and irregular appearance.
• C.it is roughly the same size as a large vegetable.
• D.it is the same color as the Martian surface.

3. Why is landing on Phobos considered a major technical challenge?

• A.The moon’s surface is too soft to support a heavy spacecraft.
• B.The weak gravity of the moon makes it hard for a vehicle to stay grounded.
• C.The dust on the moon’s surface interferes with the robotic sensors.
• D.There is too much gravity from Phobos pulling the craft down too fast.

4. What is the scientists’ attitude toward the small size of the sample being collected?

• A.They are disappointed that they can only collect ten grams.
• B.They fear the sample might be lost during the return journey.
• C.They believe even a tiny amount can lead to significant discoveries.
• D.They think the amount is negligible and won’t help much.

5. In the third paragraph, what does the word ‘resolve’ most likely mean?

• A.To increase the clarity of a photograph.
• B.To find a definite answer or solution to a problem.
• C.To decide firmly on a new course of action.
• D.To break something down into its smaller parts.