# SpaceNexus Daily, Tuesday, October 20, 2026: MMX Mars moons mission lifts off on H3-24, recorded as a success

> Launch Library 2 records the H3-24 launch of Japan's Martian Moons eXploration mission as a success; five more launches are scheduled from October 20 to October 22.

- Canonical page: https://spacenexus.us/briefing/2026-10-20
- This Markdown version: https://spacenexus.us/briefing/2026-10-20.md
- Data as of: published 2026-10-20 06:08 UTC; records from 2026-10-19 06:00 UTC to 2026-10-20 06:00 UTC
- How the numbers are made: https://spacenexus.us/methodology#ai-content

## About this edition

- AI-generated briefing, AI voice. This briefing is AI-generated: an AI model wrote the script from SpaceNexus records and the sources listed, two independent AI passes checked every claim against those records and the web, and an AI voice reads it. No sponsor, advertiser or partner has any part in it.
- How it was checked: All 32 claims in the script were checked one by one against the SpaceNexus records listed below, by two independent AI fact-checkers that did not write it, one of them also searching the web; every number, date and time was matched to the records by code. It publishes only if every claim passes.

## Transcript

This is SpaceNexus Daily, for Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

### Space stocks and money

In the trading session of Monday, October 19, the SpaceNexus Pure-Play Index of space stocks fell 0.4 percent, with 14 companies up and 20 down. The largest gain was Innospace, up 4.7 percent, and the largest decline was Creotech Instruments, down 5.1 percent. Veloxx media reported that Skyroot Aerospace named Swarna Latha Senior Vice President – People & Culture.

Sources: [SpaceNexus Pure-Play Index (Yahoo Finance daily close)](https://spacenexus.us/markets-daily); [SpaceNexus Pure-Play Index (Yahoo Finance daily close)](https://spacenexus.us/company-profiles/innospace); [SpaceNexus Pure-Play Index (Yahoo Finance daily close)](https://spacenexus.us/company-profiles/creotech-instruments); [Veloxx media](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipwFBVV95cUxNRml1LUVUUW5mMkljYnlQOUtBYUxZMlN5RE5aTmpKODJ1cC04X0IzRHBtWnVJeG1Nek9LNFQtZWYtUDV4Y2tPbHRsZkd3ZHFsaVlNcENzTGs1UkNUb3pFaDNhR3NGNFJvajlMRk5xM3VVU0tYc1p4RmtYenZhOFc1dzBnWkYtZVN4aDN6RTJINTNVQUVuUUl4aHBHTm1raU9yVGEydDZTcw?oc=5)

### MMX lifts off from Tanegashima

The H3-24 launch for the Martian Moons eXploration mission, MMX, lifted off from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan, at 19:41:03 UTC on October 19. Launch Library 2 records the launch as a success. Four outlets covered the story: NASASpaceFlight, Space.com, SpacePolicyOnline.com and Wired Science.

Sources: [Launch Library 2](https://spacenexus.us/launch/cml5wsu51006sdx9fe576auk1); [NASASpaceFlight](https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2026/10/mmx-launch/)

### Kosmos 2612 near ICEYE-X36

Ars Technica Space reported that the Russian spacecraft Kosmos 2612 closed from hundreds of kilometers away to extreme proximity to ICEYE-X36, a satellite used by Ukraine.

Sources: [Ars Technica Space](https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/10/russian-spacecraft-maneuvers-in-extreme-proximity-to-satellite-used-by-ukraine/)

### Euclid finds a new comet

Universe Today reported that the ESA's Euclid space telescope has discovered a new comet. Universe Today says the telescope's mission is to observe billions of galaxies. ESA Science and Phys.org Space also covered the story.

Sources: [Universe Today](https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-esas-euclid-space-telescope-has-discovered-a-new-comet)

### European operators plan MSS spectrum

Via Satellite reported that four of Europe's top mobile network operators confirmed they are working together on a plan for mobile satellite service spectrum in Europe, announcing a letter of intent.

Sources: [Via Satellite](https://www.satellitetoday.com/connectivity/2026/10/19/european-mnos-team-up-for-mss-d2d-spectrum-in-europe/)

### Launches ahead

Five launches are scheduled, from October 20 to October 22. Falcon 9 Bandwagon 5 is targeting no earlier than 10:30:00 UTC on October 20, with Falcon 9 Starlink Group 15-15 the same day. Ceres-1S and Electron are listed for October 21, and Long March 8A for October 22. Launch Library 2 lists each as go for launch.

Sources: [Launch Library 2](https://spacenexus.us/launch/cmt21aooc05z01173u9gga61m); [Launch Library 2](https://spacenexus.us/launch/cmv5e8m6f18jj3p0m8clsyxwl); [Launch Library 2](https://spacenexus.us/launch/cmva1ff9t018f13ojpmu85gud); [Launch Library 2](https://spacenexus.us/launch/cmogcfc9cu4ad10zhnz3ogzuu); [Launch Library 2](https://spacenexus.us/launch/cmva1ffa2018h13oj6g5kpxee)

Full details and sources are at spacenexus.us.


## Sources

- [SpaceNexus Pure-Play Index (SpaceNexus Pure-Play Index (Yahoo Finance daily close))](https://spacenexus.us/markets-daily)
- [Innospace (462350) (SpaceNexus Pure-Play Index (Yahoo Finance daily close))](https://spacenexus.us/company-profiles/innospace)
- [Creotech Instruments (CRI.WA) (SpaceNexus Pure-Play Index (Yahoo Finance daily close))](https://spacenexus.us/company-profiles/creotech-instruments)
- [Swarna Latha, Skyroot Aerospace (Veloxx media)](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipwFBVV95cUxNRml1LUVUUW5mMkljYnlQOUtBYUxZMlN5RE5aTmpKODJ1cC04X0IzRHBtWnVJeG1Nek9LNFQtZWYtUDV4Y2tPbHRsZkd3ZHFsaVlNcENzTGs1UkNUb3pFaDNhR3NGNFJvajlMRk5xM3VVU0tYc1p4RmtYenZhOFc1dzBnWkYtZVN4aDN6RTJINTNVQUVuUUl4aHBHTm1raU9yVGEydDZTcw?oc=5)
- [H3-24 | Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) (Launch Library 2)](https://spacenexus.us/launch/cml5wsu51006sdx9fe576auk1)
- [Japanese MMX mission set for launch to study Martian moons (NASASpaceFlight)](https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2026/10/mmx-launch/)
- [Russian spacecraft maneuvers in "extreme proximity" to satellite used by Ukraine (Ars Technica Space)](https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/10/russian-spacecraft-maneuvers-in-extreme-proximity-to-satellite-used-by-ukraine/)
- [The ESA's Euclid Space Telescope Has Discovered A New Comet (Universe Today)](https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-esas-euclid-space-telescope-has-discovered-a-new-comet)
- [European MNOs Team Up for MSS D2D Spectrum in Europe (Via Satellite)](https://www.satellitetoday.com/connectivity/2026/10/19/european-mnos-team-up-for-mss-d2d-spectrum-in-europe/)
- [Falcon 9 Block 5 | Bandwagon 5 (Dedicated Mid-Inclination Rideshare) (Launch Library 2)](https://spacenexus.us/launch/cmt21aooc05z01173u9gga61m)
- [Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 15-15 (Launch Library 2)](https://spacenexus.us/launch/cmv5e8m6f18jj3p0m8clsyxwl)
- [Ceres-1S (Launch Library 2)](https://spacenexus.us/launch/cmva1ff9t018f13ojpmu85gud)
- [Electron | We're Not Hawking Around (3x HawkEye 360) (Launch Library 2)](https://spacenexus.us/launch/cmogcfc9cu4ad10zhnz3ogzuu)
- [Long March 8A (Launch Library 2)](https://spacenexus.us/launch/cmva1ffa2018h13oj6g5kpxee)

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