NASA astronauts still stuck in space
Listen to the story (Irish accent)
Two astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) will have to stay in space longer than planned. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams went to the ISS in June. They were supposed to be back on Earth after one week.
Their trip was first extended because of problems with their spacecraft, called Starliner. It was built by Boeing. Now, their return is delayed again. They now might not come back until late March or April.
NASA says the delay is not dangerous for the astronauts. The ISS recently got two supply shipments in November. These shipments brought food, water, clothes, and oxygen. They even brought holiday items.
Most trips to the ISS last six months. Some last a year. A space expert, Dr. Simeon Barber, said the extra time in space shouldn't be a big problem. He thinks the astronauts are disappointed to miss holidays at home. But he also thinks they like being on the space station.
A new crew needs to go to the ISS before Wilmore and Williams can come home. The next crew’s launch has been delayed. This next crew was supposed to launch in February 2025. The capsule that takes them up is the one that was going to bring Wilmore and Williams back, along with two other astronauts.
SpaceX, a company that works with NASA, is building a new capsule for this next crew. But it is not ready yet. It is now expected to be ready in late March. NASA thought about using a different capsule but decided to wait for the new one.
Vocabulary22 words
- Astronaut
- a person who is trained to travel in space; ??
- Space
- the area outside of Earth with stars and darkness; ?
- Planned
- scheduled; decided in advance
- Supposed to
- expected, planned, arranged, decided
- Earth
- the planet/world we live on ?
- Extend
- To make something longer or go further;
- Spacecraft
- A vehicle designed/made for space travel; ?
- Return
- to go back; to come back
- Delay
- late; postpone; suspend; not on time; slow down; change to a later time
- Supply
- Things needed, like food or water
- Shipment
- sending something from one place to another, usually in a package or container
- Oxygen
- A gas that we need to breathe in order to live; O;
- Holiday
- a special day like Christmas or New Year
- Item
- a single object or thing; one piece; a product
- Holiday item
- something like food, clothing or decorations for a holiday
- Expert
- a person with a lot of knowledge and experience in a trade, job or profession
- Disappointed
- sad; let down; upset; unhappy; not pleased
- Crew
- a group of people who work together; a group or team of people who work together on a vehicle like an airplane or a ship
- Capsule
- a small container
- Expect
- to think something will happen; forecast; predict; suppose
- Late
- at the end of a day, week, month or year
- Decide
- to choose something; make a choice from many different options; select
Quiz
Answer key
1. June 2. Boeing 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Two _____ on the International Space Station (ISS) will have to stay in space _____ than planned. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams went to the ISS in _____. They were supposed to be back on Earth after one _____.
Their trip was first extended _____ of problems with their spacecraft, called Starliner. It was _____ by Boeing. Now, their return is delayed again. They now _____ not come back until late March or April.
NASA says the _____ is not dangerous for the astronauts. The ISS recently got two _____ shipments in November. These shipments brought _____, water, clothes, and oxygen. They even brought _____ items.
Most trips to the ISS last six _____. Some last a year. A space expert, Dr. Simeon Barber, said the _____ time in space shouldn't be a _____ problem. He thinks the astronauts are disappointed to _____ holidays at home. But he also thinks they like _____ on the space station.
A new crew needs to go _____ the ISS before Wilmore and Williams can come home. The next crew’s _____ has been delayed. This next crew was supposed to launch in February _____. The capsule that takes them up is the one that was going to _____ Wilmore and Williams back, along with two other _____.
SpaceX, a company that _____ with NASA, is building a new capsule for this _____ crew. But it is not ready yet. It is now expected to be _____ in late March. NASA thought about using a different _____ but decided to wait for the new _____.
Discussion questions
- How do you think the astronauts feel about having their mission extended multiple times? Why?
- Why do you think NASA decided to wait for the new SpaceX capsule instead of using a different one? What are the possible advantages and disadvantages of this decision?
- The text mentions that the supply shipments included “holiday items”. What kinds of things do you think these items might be? Why is it important to bring these kinds of things to the astronauts?
- If you had the chance to visit the ISS, would you go? Why or why not? What would you miss from Earth?
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