News Mash-up: Space

Category: Science/Environment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

  1. float / floʊt / (v.) – to move slowly through the air
    Example:

    The kids are having fun popping the bubbles floating in the air.


  2. suck / sʌk / (v.) – to be bad or unpleasant
    Example:

    This day sucks! The train broke, and my wallet got stolen.


  3. immense / ɪˈmɛns / (adj.) – being extremely large in size or amount
    Example:

    Jordan is experiencing immense pressure to get a high score in his exams. He needs it to keep his scholarship.


  4. swirl / swɜrl / (v.) – to continuously move in a circular motion
    Example:

    The wine swirled when he moved his glass.


  5. account / əˈkaʊnt / (n.) – a written or spoken report about an event or situation
    Example:

    The witness gave a detailed account of the robbery at the bank.


Article

Read the text below.

SpaceX delivers four new crew members to join space station until spring


A SpaceX capsule with four astronauts arrived at the International Space Station on Nov. 11. The flight took 21 hours from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.


The astronauts — three Americans and a German — will stay in the ISS until spring.


Floating in space and shining like a diamond,” said German astronaut Matthias Maurer when he first spotted the space station.


The new arrivals were welcomed to the ISS by its three current residents. There had been seven on board but SpaceX returned four of them to Earth on Nov. 8, including Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide.


One of the current residents, NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, embraced each newcomer.


“I can’t tell you how happy I am to see these smiling faces,” he said. Back on Earth, Hoshide tweeted: “Gravity sucks, but getting used to it slowly.” (AP)


Jupiter’s Great Red Spot deeper than expected


Data from NASA’s Juno spacecraft is providing a deeper understanding of Jupiter’s violent atmosphere, including its Great Red Spot, showing that this immense swirling storm extends much further down than expected.


Juno took microwave and gravity measurements of the planet that indicated the Great Red Spot plunges up to 500 km below Jupiter’s cloud tops, the researchers said Oct. 28.


The finding is giving scientists a three-dimensional account of the atmosphere of Jupiter. The planet is the largest in the solar system — so big that 1,000 Earths could fit inside it — and composed primarily of hydrogen and helium. (Reuters)


These articles were provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Four astronauts arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on Nov. 11, and they will stay at the station until spring. If given the opportunity, would you be interested in going on a similar mission? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Do you think more people will have the opportunity to go on a space mission in the near future? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Data from NASA’s Juno spacecraft is providing a deeper understanding of Jupiter’s violent atmosphere, including its Great Red Spot. Should further research be conducted about it? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Would you be interested in learning more about Jupiter? What other planets should researchers examine further (ex. Saturn, Mercury)? Why? Discuss.