Pre-reading questions:
- 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:
- 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:
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
- 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
- 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?