Want to pretend to live on Mars? Apply now

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Category: Technology/Innovations

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. isolated / ˈaɪ səˌleɪ tɪd / (adj.) – separate or far away from other things or people of the same kind
    Example:

    We were surprised to find an isolated village high up in the mountains.


  2. complete with / kəmˈplit wɪθ / (adj.) – including something that’s mentioned
    Example:

    The actor lives in a huge mansion complete with a bowling alley, movie theater, and ten bathrooms!


  3. stranded / ˈstræn dɪd / (adj.) – unable to leave a place or get out of a situation
    Example:

    The stranded tourists have finally been rescued from the flooded hotel.


  4. spud / spʌd / (n.) – a potato
    Example:

    They grow spuds, turnips, and sweet potatoes at that farm.


  5. permanent resident / ˈpɜr mə nənt ˈrɛz ɪ dənt / (n.) – a person who’s not a citizen of a certain country but is allowed to live there without a time limit
    Example:

    Maki is a permanent resident, not a citizen, so she can’t vote.


Article

Read the text below.

Want to find your inner Matt Damon and spend a year pretending you are isolated on Mars? NASA has a job for you.


To prepare for eventually sending astronauts to Mars, NASA began taking applications Aug. 6 for four people to live for a year in Mars Dune Alpha. That’s a 158-square-meter Martian habitat, created by a 3D printer and housed inside a building at Johnson Space Center in Houston.


The paid volunteers will take part in a simulated Mars exploration mission, complete with space-walks, limited communications back home, restricted food and resources and equipment failures.


NASA is planning three of these experiments, with the first one starting in fall next year. Food will all be ready-to-eat space food and at the moment there are no windows planned. Some plants will be grown, but not potatoes like in the movie The Martian. Damon played stranded astronaut Mark Watney, who survived on spuds.


The requirements are strict, including a master’s degree in a science, engineering or math field, or pilot experience. Only American citizens or permanent U.S. residents between 30 and 55 are eligible. (AP)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • NASA began taking applications for four people to live for a year in Mars Dune Alpha. If you had the chance, would you participate in an experiment like this? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Only American citizens or permanent US residents between the age of 30 and 55 are eligible. Do you feel that’s fair? What do you think are the reasons for these age and nationality requirements? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The volunteers will take part in a simulated Mars exploration mission, complete with space-walks, limited communications back home, restricted food and resources, and equipment failures. Which of these do you think will be the biggest challenge for the volunteers? Which do you think will be the easiest to handle? Why? Discuss.
  • In The Martian, Damon played stranded astronaut Mark Watney, who survived eating spuds. If you could only eat one type of food while stranded in outer space, what food would you choose? Why? Discuss.