©(SpaceX via AP)
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- If you could see the Earth from above, what would you want to look at first?
- What kind of people do you think would enjoy a space trip? Why?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- splashdown /SPLASH-doun/
- investor /in-VES-tor/
- launch /lawnch/
- sickness /SIK-nis/
- adjust /uh-JUHST/
[noun] – the landing of a spacecraft in the ocean
The capsule made a smooth splashdown in the Indian Ocean after its three-day mission.
[noun] – a person who puts money into something to earn a profit
A well-known investor funded the construction of a new eco-resort in Costa Rica.
[verb] – to send a spacecraft, rocket, or object into the air or space
The company launched a weather satellite to monitor climate changes.
[noun] – the state of being ill or having a health condition
The hikers had to stop because of altitude sickness near the mountain summit.
[verb] – to get used to new conditions or a new situation
Athletes need time to adjust to the different climate during international events.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
On Friday, April 4, 2025, a private space mission ended successfully with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near Southern California. The mission was funded by Bitcoin investor Chun Wang and became the first human spaceflight to orbit over both the North and South Poles. The crew launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Monday, March 31, 2025, and spent about three and a half days in space aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule.
The mission, called Fram2, was named after a famous polar exploration ship from the early 1900s. It carried four people: a robotics expert from Germany, a polar guide from Australia, a filmmaker from Norway, and Wang, a Chinese-born entrepreneur living in Malta. The capsule had a domed window that gave the crew amazing views of Earth’s polar regions. During the mission, the crew conducted 25 scientific experiments, including the first medical X-rays taken in space. Although they experienced motion sickness early on, they felt better by the second day. Their time in space helped scientists learn more about how humans adjust to space travel and return to Earth. SpaceX chose the Pacific Ocean for landing to avoid debris risks near Florida. This historic flight showed how private missions can push boundaries and may help make space travel more common in the future.
The mission, called Fram2, was named after a famous polar exploration ship from the early 1900s. It carried four people: a robotics expert from Germany, a polar guide from Australia, a filmmaker from Norway, and Wang, a Chinese-born entrepreneur living in Malta. The capsule had a domed window that gave the crew amazing views of Earth’s polar regions. During the mission, the crew conducted 25 scientific experiments, including the first medical X-rays taken in space. Although they experienced motion sickness early on, they felt better by the second day. Their time in space helped scientists learn more about how humans adjust to space travel and return to Earth. SpaceX chose the Pacific Ocean for landing to avoid debris risks near Florida. This historic flight showed how private missions can push boundaries and may help make space travel more common in the future.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- Who funded the mission?
- Where did the capsule land after the mission?
- When did the private space mission end?
- How many people did the capsule carry?
- Why did SpaceX choose the Pacific Ocean for landing?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever watched a rocket launch or space video? If so, what did you think about it? If not, would you like to watch one? Why or why not?
- Have you ever learned about the North or South Pole in class or from a book? If so, what did you learn about it? If not, would you like to know more about these places? Why?
- Do you agree that private space missions can help make space travel more common in the future?
- Why is international teamwork important for space missions?
- What are some other safety things space companies should think about?