Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What do you think it takes to become an astronaut?
- Can you share any specific space exploration missions or developments that have captured your attention, and what about them has intrigued you?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- additional /uh-DISH-uh-nl /
- tackle /TAK-uhl /
- actual /AK-choo-uhl/
- encounter /en-KOUN-ter/
- launch /lawnch/
[adjective] – extra
The team made additional efforts to ensure the project’s success.
[verb] – to try to deal with something or someone
The team decided to tackle the challenges head-on, addressing them with determination and strategic planning.
[adjective] – existing in fact
The actual number of attendees at the event was higher than the estimated figure provided earlier.
[verb] – to experience something, especially something unpleasant
She encountered unexpected difficulties while navigating through the unfamiliar terrain.
[noun] – the acts of initiating or sending out spacecraft into space
The company celebrated the successful launch of its new satellite into orbit.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
NASA has recently declared that its Artemis moon program is experiencing additional delays, moving the first astronaut lunar landing in 50 years to the year 2026. This setback impacts the first two Artemis missions with astronauts. Artemis 3, the mission for the initial crewed moon landing using SpaceX’s Starship, is now planned for September 2026, originally set for late 2025. The preceding mission, Artemis 2, where four astronauts will orbit the moon in Lockheed’s Orion capsule, is rescheduled for September 2025. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated that these delays are meant to give more time to the Artemis teams to tackle challenges faced by their industry partners.
The decision to change the schedule acknowledges the actual development challenges encountered by NASA’s industry partners, as explained by Amit Kshatriya, head of NASA’s moon and Mars exploration strategy. Problems related to Orion’s heat shield, batteries, and electrical system contribute to these delays. The plan involves NASA’s astronauts traveling to the moon using multiple spacecraft, transferring from Orion to SpaceX’s Starship system in space. SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is dealing with its challenges, including the crucial steps of docking and refueling “tanker” Starships in orbit. Jessica Jensen, SpaceX’s vice president, stressed the necessity for around 10 Starship launches to complete the orbital fuel station. These setbacks highlight the intricate and demanding nature of space exploration.
The decision to change the schedule acknowledges the actual development challenges encountered by NASA’s industry partners, as explained by Amit Kshatriya, head of NASA’s moon and Mars exploration strategy. Problems related to Orion’s heat shield, batteries, and electrical system contribute to these delays. The plan involves NASA’s astronauts traveling to the moon using multiple spacecraft, transferring from Orion to SpaceX’s Starship system in space. SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is dealing with its challenges, including the crucial steps of docking and refueling “tanker” Starships in orbit. Jessica Jensen, SpaceX’s vice president, stressed the necessity for around 10 Starship launches to complete the orbital fuel station. These setbacks highlight the intricate and demanding nature of space exploration.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- According to the article, what is the new planned date for the first crewed moon landing in the Artemis program?
- Why did NASA decide to delay the Artemis missions, according to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson?
- What challenges are mentioned in the article that NASA’s industry partners, specifically SpaceX, are facing in the Artemis program?
- What issues related to the Orion spacecraft are contributing to the delays in the Artemis program?
- How many Starship launches are stressed as necessary by SpaceX’s vice president, Jessica Jensen, to complete the orbital fuel station?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever followed news about space exploration or astronauts? If yes, what parts of these stories do you find interesting or hard to understand? If not, would you want to know more about space missions? What specific things would you like to learn?
- Can you think of a time in your life where you faced delays or problems in reaching a goal, similar to the challenges NASA is facing in the Artemis moon program? How did you or others deal with these issues? If you haven’t faced setbacks, how do you think you would handle challenges in a project or goal?
- Do you agree with NASA’s decision to delay the Artemis moon landing to address development challenges?
- Thinking about the challenges in the Artemis moon program, how could working together with other countries make future space missions more successful and efficient?
- When considering the problems SpaceX is dealing with in the article, what ethical factors should be considered when planning and carrying out space missions, especially those with human exploration?