Table of Contents
NASA is facing new problems with its Artemis 2 moon mission.
Engineers recently tested the fueling process for the large Space Launch System rocket (SLS). At first, the test seemed successful. However, the team later discovered a problem with the helium flow in the top part of the rocket. This is a major disappointment for the space agency.
Artemis 2 is an important mission. It will carry three Americans and one Canadian around the moon. This is the first time humans will fly near the moon since the Apollo missions ended in 1972. Originally, NASA planned to launch the rocket in February. They moved the date to March after finding a hydrogen leak.
Now, because of the helium problem, the launch will probably change to April.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said that the team must move the rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building. This building is where experts can safely fix the technical problems.
Because of this delay, the four astronauts have left their medical quarantine in Houston. They will wait in Houston until a new launch date is chosen.
The goal of the Artemis program is to build a permanent home on the moon’s south pole. Scientists hope to find water ice there. This ice could provide water to drink and air to breathe. It could also be used to make rocket fuel.
Artemis 2 is a 10-day trip to test all the equipment before a future moon landing. The crew will not land on the moon this time, but they will travel further into space than any humans have gone before.
NASA hopes this mission will also help humans get to Mars
Vocabulary
- NASA – The agency/organization in the United States that studies space and flies rockets
- Face a problem – To have a difficulty; to meet a trouble; to deal with a challenge.
- Moon – The large, round, white object that shines in the sky at night 🌙
- Moon mission – A special trip or plan to go to the moon.
- Mission – An important job or task; a special goal for a group.
- Engineer – A person who builds, fixes, or designs machines and engines.
- Test – To check if something works; to try something to see if it is good
- Fueling – Putting gas or energy into a machine so it can move ⛽.
- Process – A list of steps to finish a job; how something is done.
- Rocket – A very fast vehicle used to fly into space 🚀.
- Discover – To find something for the first time; to learn something new.
- Helium – A type of gas that is very light.
- Flow – How a liquid or gas moves smoothly from one place to another.
- Major – Very big; very important; serious.
- Disappointment – A sad feeling when something does not happen the way you wanted
- Space agency – A government group that works on space travel and science.
- Human – A person; a man, woman, or child
- Originally – At the beginning; at first; the first plan.
- Plan – A set of steps for the future; an idea of what to do
- Launch – To send a rocket into the sky; the start of a flight.
- Hydrogen – A gas used as fuel for rockets.
- Leak – When a liquid or gas comes out of a hole by mistake.
- Administrator – A leader or boss of a large group or office.
- Vehicle – Something used for carrying people or things, like a car or rocket.
- Assembly – Putting parts together to make one whole thing.
- Expert – A person who knows a lot about a specific subject; a master.
- Technical – Related to machines, science, or how things work.
- Delay – To make something happen later than planned; a wait
- Astronaut – A person who is trained to travel into space 👨🚀.
- Medical quarantine – Staying away from other people so you do not get sick or spread germs
- Quarantine – To keep people alone for a short time for safety or health.
- Goal – Something you want to do; an aim; a target 🎯.
- Program – A long-term plan or a group of many related projects.
- Permanent – Lasting forever; not changing; staying for a long time.
- Pole – The very top or very bottom of a planet (the North Pole, the South Pole)
- Scientist – A person who studies how the world and nature work 🔬.
- Hope – To want something to happen in the future; a good wish.
- Provide – To give something that is needed; to supply.
- Breathe – To take air into your lungs and let it out 🫁.
- Fuel – Something burned for energy, like gas or wood.
- Equipment – The tools or machines needed for a specific job 🛠️.
- Moon landing – When a spacecraft arrives on the surface of the moon.
- Crew – A group of people working together on a ship or plane
- Space – The giant area outside of Earth where the stars and planets are 🌌.
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- Do you think it is important for humans to go back to the moon? Why or why not?
- If you were offered a seat on a rocket to fly around the moon, would you go?
- NASA wants to build a “permanent home” on the moon. What would be the hardest part about living there?
- Exploring space costs a lot of money. Do you think this money should be spent on space or on problems here on Earth?
- How do you think the astronauts feel when a mission is delayed multiple times?
- 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
NASA is ______ new problems with its Artemis 2 moon mission.
______ recently tested the fueling process for the large Space Launch System ______ (SLS). At first, the test seemed successful. However, the ______ later discovered a problem with the helium flow in the ______ part of the rocket. This is a major disappointment ______ the space agency.
Artemis 2 is an important ______ . It will carry three Americans and one Canadian around the ______ . This is the first time humans will fly ______ the moon since the Apollo missions ended in ______ . Originally, NASA planned to launch the rocket ______ February. They moved the date to March after finding a hydrogen ______ .
Now, because of the helium problem, the ______ will probably change to April.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman ______ that the team must move the rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building. ______ building is where experts can safely fix the technical problems.
______ of this delay, the four astronauts have left their medical quarantine ______ Houston. They will wait in Houston until a new launch date is ______ .
The goal of the Artemis program ______ to build a permanent home on the moon’s south ______ . Scientists hope to find water ice there. This ice ______ provide water to drink and air to breathe. It could also be ______ to make rocket fuel.
Artemis 2 is a ______ -day trip to test all the equipment before a future moon ______ . The crew will not land on the moon this time, ______ they will travel further into space than any humans have gone ______ .
NASA hopes this mission ______ also help humans get to Mars
