Table of Contents
Japan’s SLIM spacecraft landed on the moon. This is Japan’s first time landing on the moon.
Japan is now the fifth country to land on the moon. The Soviet Union, the USA, China and India also landed on the moon.
SLIM landed on Saturday at 12:20 a.m. Japan time. But, there is a problem with the spacecraft. The battery is not working well, so the power will only last for a few hours.
Japan tested new technology for landing spacecrafts on the moon.
Japan wants to send an astronaut to the moon with NASA. They are working on a project called the Artemis program.
Japan is also working with India to send a spacecraft to the moon in 2025.
The SLIM spacecraft also brought a robot called SORA-Q to the moon. The robot was made by a toy company.
Vocabulary
- Spacecraft – A vehicle designed/made for space travel, like a satellite or a spaceship; 🚀
- Land – to come down from the air/sky and touch the ground;
- Power – to produce or give energy/electricity to something
- Last – to continue; to continue to exist; to continue for a period of time; to keep going
- Test – to do something to learn if it is safe, works correctly, etc.; try out
- Technology – Tools and machines that help us do things better or easier;
- Astronaut – a person who is trained to travel in space
- Project – A planned and organized task or job; A planned piece of work that has a specific purpose;
Discussion Questions
- How do you feel about the problem with the SLIM spacecraft’s battery? What could they do to fix it?
- Do you think it’s important to travel to and study space?
- Why do you think a toy company helped make the robot SORA-Q for the moon mission?
- What do you think about countries like the USA, India and Japan working together to explore space?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Japan’s SLIM spacecraft _____ on the moon. This is Japan’s first time landing on the _____.
Japan is now the fifth _____ to land on the moon. The Soviet Union, the USA, China and _____ also landed on the moon.
SLIM landed on Saturday at _____ a.m. Japan time. But, there is a problem with the spacecraft. The _____ is not working well, so the power will only last for a _____ hours.
Japan tested new _____ for landing spacecrafts on the moon.
Japan wants to send an _____ to the moon with NASA. They are working on a project _____ the Artemis program.
Japan is also working with India to _____ a spacecraft to the moon in 2025.
The SLIM spacecraft also _____ a robot called SORA-Q to the moon. The robot was made by a toy _____.
