Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- How would you feel if you ended up staying in a certain place longer than you intended?
- What challenges might people face if they have to extend their stay unexpectedly?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- backup /BAK-uhp/
- thruster /THRUHS-ter/
- seal /seel/
- dock /dok/
- invest /in-VEST/
[adjective] – serving as an alternative or supplementary option in case the primary one fails or is unavailable
We have a backup plan in case our main idea doesn’t work.
[noun] – a small engine on a spacecraft, used to control or adjust its movement
The spaceship used its thrusters to move closer to the space station.
[noun] – a device or substance that is used to join two things together so that air, liquid, etc. cannot get in or out
The jar had a tight seal to keep the food fresh.
[verb] – to bring a ship or spacecraft into a dock or other place where it can stay
The boat docked at the harbor for the night.
[verb] – to put money, effort, time, etc. into something to make a profit or get an advantage
She decided to invest her savings in the new company.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will stay on the International Space Station (ISS) longer than planned because of problems with their Boeing Starliner capsule. Their return was supposed to happen in mid-June, but it has been delayed due to issues like thruster failures and helium leaks. NASA’s commercial crew program manager, Steve Stich, stated that a new return date has not yet been set. The main goal is to bring the astronauts back using the Starliner once these problems are fixed, though alternatives such as SpaceX’s Dragon capsule are being considered.
Engineers have tested a backup thruster and will keep investigating the causes of the malfunctions that happened on June 6 during the Starliner’s approach to the ISS. Initial findings suggest that worn-out seals might be causing the helium leaks and thruster issues, but more information is needed. Boeing plans to test the thrusters while the capsule is still docked at the space station. This mission is Boeing’s first crewed test flight, following an uncrewed test in 2019 and another test in 2022 with additional problems. SpaceX, which has been transporting astronauts since 2020, is also facing issues, as its Falcon 9 rockets are grounded due to an upper-stage failure. NASA has invested billions of dollars in companies like Boeing and SpaceX to ensure reliable transportation for astronauts to the ISS.
Engineers have tested a backup thruster and will keep investigating the causes of the malfunctions that happened on June 6 during the Starliner’s approach to the ISS. Initial findings suggest that worn-out seals might be causing the helium leaks and thruster issues, but more information is needed. Boeing plans to test the thrusters while the capsule is still docked at the space station. This mission is Boeing’s first crewed test flight, following an uncrewed test in 2019 and another test in 2022 with additional problems. SpaceX, which has been transporting astronauts since 2020, is also facing issues, as its Falcon 9 rockets are grounded due to an upper-stage failure. NASA has invested billions of dollars in companies like Boeing and SpaceX to ensure reliable transportation for astronauts to the ISS.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- Why will NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stay on the ISS longer than planned?
- What issues delayed the astronauts’ return?
- Who is NASA’s commercial crew program manager mentioned in the article?
- What alternative is being considered for the astronauts’ return?
- What might be causing the helium leaks and thruster issues, according to initial findings?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Can you recall a time when a plan you had didn’t go as expected? If so, how did you handle it? If not, how would you handle a situation where plans change suddenly?
- Have you ever been part of a project that encountered unexpected issues, similar to the problems faced by the astronauts with the Boeing Starliner capsule? If so, how did your team address and resolve the issues? If not, how would you approach such a situation?
- Do you think it is important to have a backup plan for major events or missions?
- What do you think about the issues faced by Boeing and SpaceX in their space missions? How might these issues impact future space missions?
- What are the potential risks of having astronauts stay longer on the ISS than planned? How can these risks be minimized?