Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What do you know about astronauts and their work?
- What kind of training do you think astronauts need before they go to space?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- astronaut /AS-truh-nawt/
- mission /mISH-uhn/
- transport /TRANS-pawrt/
- readiness /RED-ee-nis/
- emphasize /EM-fuh-sahyz/
[noun] – a person who is trained to travel in a spacecraft
The astronaut floated in space and saw the Earth from above.
[noun] – a specific task or duty that someone is assigned to accomplish
The team completed their mission by returning the equipment safely.
[noun] – the action of moving goods or people from one place to another
The astronaut used the spacecraft for transport to the space station.
[noun] – the state of being fully prepared for something
The astronaut showed their readiness to return to space.
[verb] – to give special importance or attention to something
The teacher emphasized the importance of studying for the test.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams recently completed a challenging space mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), lasting over nine months. Initially, the astronauts were part of Boeing’s Starliner crewed test flight, which faced several technical difficulties. These issues caused the mission to last longer than planned. The Starliner spacecraft, designed to return the astronauts, could not perform as expected. As a result, SpaceX provided the return transport. The mission began in June, with a much shorter stay in mind. However, technical problems, such as issues with the spacecraft’s thrusters and a helium leak, required quick decisions and led to the extended mission.
Following the mission, the astronauts acknowledged the challenges faced during the flight. Both Wilmore and Williams expressed their readiness to fly aboard Starliner again once its technical problems are resolved. They emphasized the spacecraft’s potential despite its initial setbacks. NASA engineers continue investigating the malfunctioning thrusters and the helium leak. If future tests are successful, the spacecraft could be ready for future missions by the end of the year. This incident also highlighted the importance of having multiple companies, like Boeing and SpaceX, involved in transporting crews to the ISS. Such diversity ensures safety and reliability for future space exploration missions.
Following the mission, the astronauts acknowledged the challenges faced during the flight. Both Wilmore and Williams expressed their readiness to fly aboard Starliner again once its technical problems are resolved. They emphasized the spacecraft’s potential despite its initial setbacks. NASA engineers continue investigating the malfunctioning thrusters and the helium leak. If future tests are successful, the spacecraft could be ready for future missions by the end of the year. This incident also highlighted the importance of having multiple companies, like Boeing and SpaceX, involved in transporting crews to the ISS. Such diversity ensures safety and reliability for future space exploration missions.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- Who are the astronauts mentioned in the article?
- What was the mission that Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were part of?
- How long did their mission last?
- What problems caused the mission to last longer than expected?
- What issues were faced with the Starliner spacecraft?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Would you like to travel to space? If so, which mission would you like to join? If not, why would you choose not to?
- Have you ever faced a challenge that made you rethink your plans? If so, how did you overcome that challenge? If not, what would you do if you faced a challenge that made you reconsider your plans?
- Do you agree that it’s important for astronauts to work with multiple companies during missions?
- Why do you think space missions require careful planning and problem-solving?
- How could the space industry improve its safety and success rates in future missions? What new technologies do you think could help astronauts on future missions?