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Space Tourism
The first civilian to go into space was teacher Christa McAuliffe, who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. She was part of a program to allow ordinary people into space without full astronaut training. The National Aeronautics and Space Association, “NASA”, cancelled the program after the disaster.
Another teacher, Barbara Morgan is scheduled to go to the International Space Station in June 2007. She was McAuliffe’s backup on the Challenger mission. NASA made it clear that this wasn’t a revival of the teacher in space program from 1986. Morgan will go through regular cosmonaut training.
In April 2001, Dennis Tito became the world’s first space tourist. He paid his own way on a Russian spacecraft to spend a week on the International Space Station. Tito went through extensive cosmonaut training and medical testing to make sure he was fit to fly. He paid $20 million for the adventure.
Tito was followed by Mark Shuttleworth, Gretta Olsen, Anouseh Ansare, Toyohiro Akiyama and Helen Sharman. Some were considered tourists, others were considered business travelers.
NASA has considered commercial space flight. They would have to put 50 people in a shuttle, each paying $10 million per ticket.
Other companies are hoping to start sub-orbital flights within a decade. Virgin Galactic plans to take passengers into space by 2008. Virgin Galactic is partnered with the state of New Mexico to build the US Southwest Regional Space Port near Upham, New Mexico. Blue Origin is a company that is planning a launch site for sub-orbital flights in Culberson Co, Texas.
Vocabulary List
Civilian- untrained participant
Disaster- usually fatal accident
Astronaut- one who has trained to fly into outer space
Scheduled- anticipated, planned
Revival- to bring something back
Cosmonaut- someone who trains to fly outside the atmosphere
Tourist- someone who is visiting a place that isn't their home. Usually on vacation.
Considered- thought of as
Commercial- set up as a company to make money
Sub-orbital- less than one revolution around
Space Port- place to launch and land space craft
Backup- replacement
Launch Site- the place a space craft takes off from
Partnered- working together with
Idioms
Made it clear- told in a way that left no doubt
Fit to fly- in shape mentally and physically to go on the flight
Listening Comprehension Exercise.
Read the news story above and have students fill in the blanks
- The first _______ to go into space was teacher _______ _________, who died in the _____ _______ _________disaster in 1986.
- She was part of a program to allow ordinary people into space without full _________training.
- The ________ ___________ ___ _____ ___________, “NASA”, cancelled the program after the disaster.
- Another _______, Barbara Morgan is scheduled to go to the ____________ _____ __ _____in June 2007.
- She was McAuliffe’s ______ on the Challenger mission.
- NASA made it clear that this wasn’t a _______ of the teacher in space program from 1986. Morgan will go through regular _________ training.
- In April 2001, Dennis Tito became the world’s first_____ _______.
- _______ _______ plans to take passengers into space by 2008.
- Virgin Galactic is _________ with the state of New Mexico to build the US ________ ________ _____ ____ near Upham, New Mexico.
10. Blue Origin is a _______ that is planning a _______ ____ for ___ _______ flights in Culberson Co, Texas.
Fill in the Blanks Answers:
- civilian, Christa McAuliffe, Space Shuttle Challenger
- astronaut
- National Aeronautics and Space Association
- teacher, International Space Station
- backup
- space tourist
- Virgin Galactic
- partnered, Southwest Regional Space Port
- company, launch site, sub-orbital
Warm up Discussions
In your pair or group, decide which of the topics below is the most interesting. Chat about the topics you liked, and knew about, then chat about the ones you didn’t like or know about. Change topics and partners often.
1. Space travel: Will it be as common as airline travel? More and more people are going into space as tourists. Do you think this trend will continue and grow?
2. Space travel for non-astronauts is dangerous. Would you go? Do you think it’s dangerous or just like crossing a street?
3. Accidents will always happen. Even if everything is checked out, accidents can happen. Is this inevitable? Would it keep you from going on a space tourism flight?
More Activities for Advanced Students >>>
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