The lesson was developed for grades 8-9 of specialized English schools using the textbook by O.V. Afanasyeva “English language grade 8”. One of the topics that students study is “The World of Science and Technology”, which discusses the development of science and technology, and of course, computers in our lives (the most favorite section for modern schoolchildren). At the end of the topic, there is a conversation about the most significant achievement of our time - about space exploration. And here some gaps in the knowledge of students in space exploration emerge. This lesson provides the basic information that students need to know about space exploration, helps to consolidate their knowledge and be able to reason on this topic in English. Using the Power Point computer program helps to make the lesson more colorful and interesting, and is a good motivation to study this topic.
PURPOSE: Formation of oral speech skills on the topic “SPACE EXPLORATION”
Educational aspect: To instill interest in the achievements of modern science in space exploration, especially domestic astronautics
Developing aspect: Development of cognitive interest, development of abilities for conjecture, logical presentation, the ability to work with various types of exercises.
Educational aspect: Control of the basic skills and abilities of speech activity, possession of lexical material.
Lesson objectives:
- activate vocabulary on the topic
- develop an interest in the topic
- to practice speaking
- it is appropriate to use modern information technologies in the classroom (Presentation)
Lesson equipment:
1) projector, screen, laptop
2) handout
3) presentation in Power Point
LESSON “SPACE EXPLORATION”
Before you start:
What do you know about space?
Can we say that space exploration is the main part of science?
1. Read and guess what it means:
| key words: equipment observation maintain exploration technology breakthrough discovery civilization invention experiment |
1.to find something: new place, fact, substance
- to make, design, or think of a new type of thing
- the act of traveling through a place in order to find out about it
- something that you notice when watching something or someone
- unimportant new discovery in something you are studying especially one made after trying for a long time
- the societies in the world considered as a whole
- new machines, equipment, and ways of doing things that are based on modern knowledge about science and computers
- to try using various ideas, methods to find out how good or effective they are
- to make something continue in the same way or at the same standard as before
- the tools, machines, clothes that you need to do a particular job or activity
Key: 1) discovery, 2) invention, 3) exploration, 4) observation, 5) breakthrough, 6) civilization, 7) technology, 8) experiment, 9) maintain, 10) equipment.
2. Match the combinations of words:
Key: 1-f, 2-m, 3-a, 4-j, 5-i, 6-b, 7-k, 8-c, 9-n, 10-d, 11-g, 12-e, 13-l, 14-h.
II. listening:
1. Listen to the short articles and try to learn information:
1) Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky – the founder of astronautics in Russia, put forward several ideas about space travel. Tsiolkovsky's idea of spaceship was based on the use of liquid fuels. His calculations were used in modern theory of cosmonautics and practical space travel.
2) Sergei Pavlovich Korolyov- is a famous scientist and founder of practical cosmonautics. He was the chief constructor of the first Earth satellites and spaceships. Then followed rockets to the Moon, Mars, Venus.
3) The space age began on October 4, 1957. On that day, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to circle the earth. Its capsule weighing 83.6 kilograms went into Earth orbit carrying a radio transmitter whose “bleeps” (pips) were received on the ground.
4) Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, a Soviet air force pilot, was the first human to travel in space. The Soviet cosmonaut circled the earth on April 12, 1961. From blastoff to landing, his trip around the earth lasted 1hour and 48 minutes. The news about space flight of the Soviet cosmonaut immediately flew over the world.
5) Valentina Tershkova was the first woman-cosmonaut in the world. From June 16 until June 19, during a group flight with V.Bykovky, the spaceship “Vostok-6” piloted by Tereshkova made in 70 hours and 41 minutes 48 circuits around the earth, covering a distance of about 2 million kilometers.
When she was in space, she was there together with her “space-brother” Valery Bykovsky.
This was another great achievement – launching two spaceships at the same time.
6) In 1965 the cosmonaut Alexey Leonov went outside wearing a space suit connected to the capsule by a line which also carried his oxygen supply, becoming the first person to “walk” in space. From the first experiments scientists went over to systematic exploration of space.
7) The gravity of Earth continually pulls on our bodies to give us weight. But if you are in a lift that is speeding downwards, you feel lighter. This effect is exaggerated in a spacecraft: as it is falling in a gravitational field, the astronauts inside it are falling at the same rate and become weightless.
2. Say true or false:
- Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky – the founder of astronautics in Great Britaina, put forward several ideas about space travel.
- Sergei Pavlovich Korolyov was the chief constructor of the first telephone.
- On October 4, 1967 the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to circle the earth.
- Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, a Soviet air force pilot, was the first human to travel to Mars.
- Valentina Tershkova was the first woman-cosmonaut in the world.
- Alexei Leonov went outside wearing a space suit connected to the capsule by a line which also carried his oxygen supply, becoming the first person to “walk” in space.
Key: 1-false, 2-false, 3-false, 4-false, 5-true, 6-true.
3. Answer the questions:
- Why is Tsiolkovsky considered to be the founder of astronautics?
- What did he work out?
- Who was S.P. Korolyov?
- What did he made?
- How long did his space travel last?
- What did Gagarin's flight into space mean?
- What is V.Tereshkova famous for?
- What distance did she cover?
- What great achievement did they demonstrate?
- Who the first worked in outer space?
- How can you understand “zero gravity”?
1. Read the text and try to get the most interesting facts for you:
SPACE EXPLORATION
Space travel is humanity’s greatest adventure – the chance to explore the moon, the planets, and the stars. The space age began on October 4, 1957. On that day, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to circle the earth. The first manned space flight was made on April 12, 1961, when a Soviet cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, orbited the earth in a spaceship. During the years that followed this first space expedition, many flights carried people into space.
Human beings first set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969. U.S. astronaut Neil A. Amstrong stepped out of the Apollo 11 lunar module, “Eagle”. For about two hours he and Edwin E.Aldrin explored near the module and set up experiments. During the years since the space age began, many uses for space travel have been discovered. The space age developed a huge industry called the aerospace industry to design and build space equipment. A new field of medicine called space medicine came into being to study the problems of living and working in space. Weather forecasts receive warning of storms with pictures taken by weather satellites. Telephone calls and television pictures are sent around the world by communications satellites. Signals from navigation satellites enable ship navigations and search and rescue forces to determine their positions with great accuracy. Scientific satellites and space probes discovered the Van Allen radiations belt around the earth and made many other discoveries. Earth survey satellites, used for detecting mineral deposits, diseased crops, sources of pollution, and map-making; military satellites, used mainly for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering; and astronomical satellites, which are observatories in space, orbiting above the blanketing layer of the Earth's atmosphere. During the early years of the space age, success in space became a measure of a country's leadership in science, engineering, and national defense. As a result, the Soviet Union and the United States competed with one another in developing their space programmers. But both nations began to realize that they could benefit from working together. In 1975, the S.U. and U.S. cooperated in their first joint space mission “Soyuz-Apollo”. The principal area of cooperation between U.S. and Soviet space programmers has been in space medicine.
People have always wanted to explore the unknown. Mankind always dreamed of overcoming gravity and reaching other planets. Among the achievements we may enumerate the landing of automatic stations on the Moon, the flights of space laboratories towards the Venus and Mars. During the years that followed this first space expedition, many flights carried people into space. There are manned and unmanned spacecraft (carry instruments and radio equipment) The first astronauts were sent into space in small capsules that sat on top of rockets. These missions were expensive as the rockets could only be used once. The main parts of the Shuttle – the orbiter spacecraft, and the rocket boosters – are reusable. The orbiter returns to Earth like a plane, and can be used over and over again. The first space station, Salyut 1, was launched in 1971, and was visited by the Soyuz for 23 days.
By 1983 six more Salyut craft had been launched and cosmonauts were staying longer and longer in orbit. In 1983 and 1985 large Cosmos unmanned craft were automatically docked with Salyut 7, making it into a large space station. From the space station a detachable descent module could carry materials and experiments back to Earth.
In 1986 the Soviets launched “Mir”, the central module of a new space station far more complex than Salyut. As with Salyut, Mir was designed to receive both manned Soyuz craft and unmanned Progress cargo craft.
2. Answer the questions:
- Why is the travel humanity's greatest adventure?
- When did the space age begin?
- What country launched the first artificial satellite to circle the earth?
- When was the first space flight made?
- When did human beings first set foot on the moon?
- What industry did the space age develop?
- In what way are satellites used today?
- How do nations do scientists hope to answer with the help of space exploration?
- What kinds of spacecraft do you know?
- Is shuttle a reusable vehicle?
- Can cosmonauts live and work a long period in orbit of space station?
3. Complete the sentences using the verbs from the table:
competed, enable, developed, explored, orbited, was based, launched, receive, are transported, benefit
- On that day, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ______Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to circle the earth.
- But both nations began to realize that they could _____ from working together.
- As a result, the Soviet Union and the United States______ with one another in developing their space programmers.
- Weather forecasts ______ warning of storms with pictures taken by weather satellites.
- Signals from navigation satellites_____ ship navigations and search and rescue forces to determine their positions with great accuracy.
- The space age ______ a huge industry called the aerospace industry to design and build space equipment.
- For about two hours Armsrong and Aldrin______ near the module and set up experiments.
- Today, American astronauts ______ into space by the Space Shuttle.
- The first manned space flight was made on April 12, 1961, when a Soviet cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, ______ the earth in a spaceship.
- Tsiolkovsky's idea of spaceship_____ on the use of liquid fuels.
Key: 1- launched, 2 - benefit, 3 - competed, 4 - receive, 5 - enable, 6 - developed, 7 - explored, 8 - are transported, 9 - orbited, 10 - was based.
4. Express the same in English:
- The space age began with the launch of the first satellite of the Earth.
- American astronauts explored the moon and conducted experiments.
- Satellites allow you to get the information you need.
- Among the achievements of recent years, one can note the launches of probes to other planets.
- Modern astronauts live for months on space stations and regularly go out into outer space.
IV. PRACTICE
1. Put the sentences in a chronologically correct order:
- The S.U. and U.S. cooperated in their first joint space mission “Soyuz-Apollo”.
- U.S. astronaut Neil A. Amstrong stepped out of the Apollo 11 lunar module, “Eagle”.
- The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to circle the earth
- A Soviet cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, orbited the earth in a spaceship.
- Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman-cosmonaut to make a space flight.
- A.Leonov achieved the first “space walk”
- The probe was sent to explore the Mars
- Tsiolkovsky put forward several ideas about space travel
- The first space station was built
- The Russians actually hit the Moon with Luna 2, and Luna 3 flew round the Moon and sent back the first photographs of the far side.
Key: 1-8, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5, 5-6, 6-2, 7-10, 8-1, 9-9, 10-7.
2. Correct the mistakes:
- Man begin to think of space travel in the second century A.D.
- The famous Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei looked at his telescope and told people about the other worlds which he had seen.
- The German astronomer Kepler gave a detailed description of a Moon.
- The first man whom wrote about a rocket as a spaceship was the Frenchman Cyrano de Bergerac.
- The French novelist Jules Verne wrote the story “From the Earth to the Moon”, in which he try show the scientific principles of space travel.
- H.Wells the English author wrote “The First Men on the Moon” about a new era in the development of air travel and conquering outer spaces.
- Man started to think of space travel in the second century A.D.
- The famous Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei looked through his telescope and told people about the other worlds which he had seen.
- The German astronomer Kepler gave a detailed description of the Moon.
- The first man who wrote about a rocket as a spaceship was the Frenchman Cyrano de Bergerac.
- The French novelist Jules Verne wrote the story “From the Earth to the Moon”, in which he tried to show the scientific principles of space travel.
- H.Wells the English author wrote “The First Men on the Moon” about a new era in the development of air travel and conquering outer space.
3. Complete these sentences using the Subjunctive Mood and add your own sentences, combinations of words can help you:
- to produce new materials in zero gravity
- to live and work in orbital space cities
- try to survive in critical situations
- to explore outer space and other stars
- to make interplanetary flights to Mars
If I were a cosmonaut…
If I lived on another planet…
If could fly to the stars…
If I worked in orbital space station…
If I landed on unknown planet…
1. Discuss and make a dialog:
- What information about space exploration was the most exciting for you?
- Would you like to be a cosmonaut? Why or why not?
2. Work in groups.
Take turns to ask and answer questions about our Russian space exploration.
What questions would you want to ask if you interviewed a cosmonaut?
Make the conclusion .
Imagine the lifestyle on Mars or another planet and write the article about you impressions .
If you are interested in space and space exploration, you may look also:
http://www.nasa.gov National Aeronautics and Space Administration
http://www.esa.int - European Space Agency
http://www.federalspace.ru/Russian Space Agency
http://space.skyrocket.de/
http://www.planet4589.org/space/
http://www.spacefacts.de
http://www.space.com
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov
http://www.spacelist.org
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/
_________________________
All information is accompanied by slides (including paragraphs I. 1, 2; II. 1.3; III 3; IV. 1) from the Power Point “Space exploration” Appendix 1
Handout.
Lesson Objectives:
Educational :
The lesson is intended for 8th grade students studying English at the Pre-Intermediate level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Lesson Objectives:
Educational :
- To develop students' ability to communicate in English.
- Expand students' vocabulary.
- Develop reading skills.
- Continue to form the basis for the development of written speech.
Developing:
- Develop the intellectual abilities of students.
- Develop the ability to compare and analyze.
Educational:
- Develop students' independence of thought.
- To form respect for the point of view of classmates.
- Develop group work skills.
During the lesson, a number of language, speech and sociocultural tasks are solved:
a) study vocabulary on the topic “Space exploration”;
b) create a concept map on the topic “Space exploration”;
c) complete the reading task for general understanding;
d) recall the basic facts on the topic “Space exploration”;
e) discuss what is necessary for life in space;
f) create a project for an international space station.
Topic: Space and beyond.
Course book: More 4. Herbert Puchta, Jeff Stranks.
Info about students: 8th form.
Lesson Objectives: By the end of the lesson students will be able:
- To develop a basic knowledge of the solar system and the history of space exploration;
- To understand and discuss how space exploration has influenced modern life;
- To create a concept map on the topic ‘Space exploration’.
- To show understanding of the text “Space and beyond” by filling in the gaps;
- To explain the meaning of the word(s): weightless conditions, shuttle, satellite, oxygen, astronaut, solar system, NASA, to orbit;
- To record their understanding/knowledge by creating a concept map;
- to speak on the topic using a concept map;
- To design the International Space Station that will make it possible for humans to stay in space permanently.
Equipment: Text “Space and beyond”; pictures with computer, photo album, mobile phone, teddy bear, sleeping bag, guitar, exercise bike.
| procedure | Pattern of interaction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Step1. Warming-up activity. The Quiz about Space. 1. How many planets move around the Sun in our Solar system? (c)
2. Which planet is the largest in our solar system? (a)
3. Which planet is the farthest from the Sun? (b)
4. Which planet is the hottest? (b)
5. Who was the first astronaut to walk on the Moon? (b)
6. Which country had the first space station? (a)
7.Which is not a name of a space station? (b)
8. What is the name of the first woman who traveled to space? (c)
9. What did Edward Higgins White do in 1965? (a)
10. When did the Challenger disaster happen? (b)
|
T-Cl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Step 2. Pre-reading.
Comment on
the following statement:
“Why should we be spending money exploring space when there are so many problems here on Earth that we need to solve first?” How far do you agree/disagree with the statement? Why is space exploration and international topic? What are the benefits of space exploration? Discuss in pairs. |
S-S | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Step 3. while reading
.
1
.
Here is some info on space exploration. While reading the text match the titles with the correct paragraph from the text. There is one extra title.
A-5 2. Fill in the gaps in the text using the words and numbers below. Space and beyond A When Denis Tito stepped out of a space shuttle in the early hours of May 6 th 1) ________, he had a big smile on his face. He had just spent seven days in space and had become the world's first space 2) _____. He had paid $20 million dollars for his trip on the Russian Soyuz rocket. He was not the first non-astronaut in space though. In 3) ___________, the engineering company Mc Donnell Douglas gave NASA $66,000 to take Charlie Walker, a person who worked for them, on their STS-41D flight to do some 4) ________. B A space shuttle takes 90 minutes to orbit the Earth. In these 90 minutes, daylight and night time constantly change for the astronauts. In fact, they see 16 sunsets and 16 sunrises! Altogether, 45 minutes of the journey are spent in daylight, and 45 minutes in the dark. C Astronauts on the shuttle can choose from about 100 different food items and 50 drinks. However, a word of warning – the taste of food often changes in space and your favorite food on the ground might taste disgusting 5)__________ kilometers above the earth. D The 6)_________ were the first to travel into space but the 7) __________ were the first to send a man to the moon. When Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon, millions were watching him on TV back home. Of course, everyone knows Armstrong was the first man on the moon. But did you know that this Apollo 11 mission left a plaque in the moon? It says, ‘Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon July 1969, A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.' E Space travel has always been a dangerous business. Two of the most tragic accidents in the last 30 years were the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle disasters. In 1986 the Challenger had only been in the sky for a minute when it exploded. In 2003 the Columbia broke up while it was re-entering the Earth’s 8) ____________. On both flights all seven members of the 9) _______ died.
|
S | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Step 4 post reading. 1. Creating a concept map.
In pairs find the links between the terms using one or two words to join them.
2. Speaking. Speak about life in space using your concept map. |
S-S | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Step5. problem solving.
Work in pairs. 1. Here are some pictures of things a person might take with him when going to live on a space station. First, talk to each other about how important each item is to you when you are in space. Then choose three items that you wouldn't go to space without. |
S-S | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Step 6. Project work.
Could you get into groups, please? Make a design of the International Space station that will make it possible for humans to stay in space permanently. What will the space station look like? What will it be like to live and work in space? What problems might people face and what are the ways to avoid these problems? Compare your ideas. |
S-gr | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Step 7. Rounding off.
1.
Comments on Ss'progress. |
T-Cl |
Space and beyond.
A. When Denis Tito stepped out of a space shuttle in the early hours of May 6 th 2001, he had a big smile on his face. He had just spent seven days in space and had become the world's first space tourist. He had paid $20 million dollars for his trip on the Russian Soyuz rocket. He was not the first non-astronaut in space though. In 1984, the engineering company Mc Donnell Douglas gave NASA $66,000 to take Charlie Walker, a person who worked for them, on their STS-41D flight to do some research.
B. A space shuttle takes 90 minutes to orbit the Earth. In these 90 minutes, Daylight and night time constantly change for the astronauts. In fact, they see 16 sunsets and 16 sunrises! Altogether, 45 minutes of the journey are spent in daylight, and 45 minutes in the dark.
C. Astronauts on the shuttle can choose from about 100 different food items and 50 drinks. However, a word of warning – the taste of food often changes in space and your favorite food on the ground might taste disgusting 200 kilometers above the earth.
D. The Russians were the first to travel into space but the Americans were the first to send a man to the moon. When Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon, millions were watching him on TV back home. Of course, everyone knows Armstrong was the first man on the moon. But did you know that this Apollo 11 mission left a plaque in the moon? It says, ‘Here men from the planet Earthfirst set foot upon the Moon July 1969, A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.'
E. Space travel has always been a dangerous business. Two of the most tragic accidents in the last 30 years were the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle disasters. In 1986 the Challenger had only been in the sky for a minute when it exploded. In 2003 the Columbia broke up while it was re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. On bith flights all seven members of the crew died.
Bibliography:
- Herbert Puchta, Jeff Stranks. More 4.
The presentation was presented by a student of 8 "A" class MBOU "Secondary School No. 24" Palamarchuk Maxim
Teacher: Lyyurova
Natalia Vyacheslavovna
Biography: Yuri Gagarin
Birthplace: Klushino, Russia
Best Known As: The first human in space
Yuri Gagarin was born in the village of Klushino near Gzhatsk (now in Smolensk Oblast, Russia), on 9 March 1934. The adjacent town of Gzhatsk was renamed Gagarin in 1968 in his honor. His parents, Alexei Ivanovich Gagarin and Anna Timofeyevna Gagarina, worked on a collective farm.
Like all people his age Gagarin had to undergo the ordeals of the war years. He was seven, when the Second World War broke out. The boy survived the Nazi invasion, the severe hardships of the war. The first planes he saw were war planes .
When the war ended the Gagarin family moved to Gzhatsk. Yuri attended an elementary school in this town.
Gagarin briefly attended a trade school to learn foundry work in the Moscow satellite town of Lyubertsy, then entered a technical school. He joined the Saratov Flying Club in 1955 and learned to fly the Yak-18.
Later that year, he was drafted and sent to the Orenburg Flying School, where he trained in the MIG jet. Gagarin graduated on November 7, 1957, four days after Sputnik 2 was launched. He married Valentina Goryacheva, a nursing student, the day he graduated.
Post-graduation, he was assigned to Luostari airbase in Murmansk Oblast, close to the Norwegian border, where terrible weather made flying risky. In 1958 space officials recruited air force pilots to train as cosmonauts.
Career in the Soviet space program Selection and training
Gagarin applied and was selected to train in the first group of sixty men. Only twelve men were taken for further training at Zvezdograd (Star City), a training field outside Moscow.
Career in the Soviet space program Selection and training
Space officials closely observed the trainees. They finally selected Gagarin for the first spaceflight. Capable, strong, and even-tempered, Gagarin represented the ideal Soviet man, a peasant farmer who became a highly trained cosmonaut in a few short years.
Career in the Soviet space program
He was launched in Vostok 1 on the planned date, and during the crowded 1 hour 48 minutes of his single orbit of the earth he proved that man could survive in space and perform useful tasks. His mission ended at 10:55 A.M., when he landed safely in a field near Saratov
After the flight, Gagarin became a worldwide celebrity, touring widely with appearances in Italy, Great Britain, Germany, Canada, and Japan to promote the Soviet achievement.
Career in the Soviet space program Fame and later life
In 1962, he began serving as a deputy to the Supreme Soviet. He later returned to Star City, the cosmonaut facility, where he worked on designs for a reusable spacecraft. Gagarin worked on these designs in Star City for 7 years.
death and legacy
On 27 March 1968, while on a routine training flight, he and flight instructor Vladimir Seryogin died in a MiG-15UTI crash near the town of Kirzhach. Gagarin and Seryogin were buried in the walls of the Kremlin on Red Square.
death and legacy
American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin left one of Gagarin's medals on the moon as a tribute. The cosmonaut training center where he had first trained was named after him. A crater on the moon bears his name, as does Gagarin Square in Moscow with its soaring monument, along with a number of monuments and streets in cities throughout Russia. At Baikonur, a reproduction of his training room is traditionally visited by space crews before a launch. Russians celebrate Cosmonaut Day on April 12 every year in honor of Gagarin "s historical flight.
Space has always attracted man with its incomprehensibility, mystery and inaccessibility. Knowledge about it has been accumulating for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and only in the 20th century did scientists make a significant breakthrough in the field of space exploration and exploration. Today, humanity is seriously thinking about life outside of our planet, and we thought that a video on the relevant topic would be interesting and useful for you.
From the video you will learn about the possibility of colonizing other planets and creating separate settlements outside the territory of the Earth, you will be able to practice listening, and also replenish your vocabulary.
This material is designed for learners of English with a level and above.
To get started, read the instructions on how to use this article so that it brings the greatest effect.
How and where to colonize space - how and where to colonize space
| Text | Phrases |
|---|---|
| Hi! I'm Joe Strout. I have two boys, 10 and 14 years old, and three of us have been working for the last year or so on a video game about space settlement. But it's not just a game. In fact, it's the most detailed and accurate space colony simulation program that has ever been made. | and space settlement is a space settlement detailed - detailed accurate - accurate, thorough and space colony - space colony, settlement and simulation program - simulation program |
| We simulate everything from gravity, radiation, and rotational dynamics down to individual buildings and traffic paths for the people inside. All this is quite a lot of work as you can imagine. But we feel it's important. For my part, I'd say it's the most important project I've ever worked on. I'd like to share with you some of the big ideas behind it and why it matters so much. | a traffic path it matters - it matters, it matters |
| In the early days of space exploration things proceeded very rapidly. Twelve years from Sputnik to the first moon landing. People assumed this pace of change would continue and we would soon be moving into space in large numbers. So researchers looked carefully whether the best site for a growing society is Earth, the Moon, Mars, some other planet or somewhere else entirely. | space exploration - space exploration to proceed - occur, develop, unfold rapidly - quickly, rapidly Moon landing - landing on the moon to assume - assume, assume pace - pace, speed a researcher and site - a place, a platform somewhere else entirely /ɪnˈtaɪəlɪ/ - in a completely different place |
| Surprisingly, they found the answer to be inescapable: the best site is somewhere else entirely. Researchers concluded that the best place for humanity to live in space isn't on the surface of any planet or Moon, but rather in free-floating orbital space colonies. Numerous papers were written and studies were done working out the details. This was just before the Space Shuttle, which was expected to dramatically lower the cost to orbit. The cost analysis showed that we could have orbital cities of tens of thousands of people, perhaps by 1995 or so. | inescapable - inevitable, inevitable to conclude - draw a conclusion humanity - humanity on the surface - on the surface numerous - numerous to work out - calculate, work out, understand drastically lower the cost - significantly reduce the cost an orbit - orbit tens of thousands - tens of thousands |
| well, obviously that didn't happen. The shuttle program turned out to be quite a bit more expensive than expected, and funding for the space program was reduced. Also the energy crisis of the 1970s temporarily abated, reducing the need to look for clean, cheap energy sources such as space-based solar power. so we retreated to low Earth orbit going around in circles for more than three decades. | obviously - obviously to turn out - find out, turn out funding - financing to be reduced - to be reduced, reduced to abat temporarily - temporarily decrease, decrease; go into decline an energy source - energy source space-based solar power - space solar power plant to retreat /rɪˈtriːt/ - refuse, retreat a decade - decade |
| But now things are changing again. private enterprises are entering the space business in an aggressive way with ventures like SpaceX reducing the cost to orbit down to the sort of levels we were expecting in the 70s. Virgin Galactic is preparing to make routine passenger flights to the edge of space. Bigelow Aerospace has tested private inflatable space stations, and several companies are now seriously proposing to mine near-Earth asteroids. So amidst all this renewed activity, people are starting to think again about colonizing space. | a private enterprise - a private enterprise and venture - a gamble, a risky venture or undertaking an edge - edge inflatable - inflatable to propose - offer to mine - blow up amidst - in conditions, among |
| But what destinations do people think about? The top of the list is, as always, Mars. Mars holds fascination for us, and it has been a target of colonization dreams since the early days of space exploration. | a destination - destination fascination /fæsɪˈneɪʃn/ - attractiveness, captivating a target - the target since /sɪns/ - from the moment when |
| Next up is the Moon, which has the unique advantage of being only a few days away all the time. A few thinkers have considered Venus, which might support floating cities at just the right level in the atmosphere to have Earth-like temperatures and pressures. And then, so far down on the list, that most people don't even give it any thought, orbital space colonies. So let's talk about those. How do they work? And should we be giving them more attention? | a few - a little, a few to consider - consider, consider a floating city - floating (soaring) city pressure - pressure to give some (any) thought - seriously think |
| First, let's look at gravity. We know that one Earth's gravity, like what we're all sitting in right now, is good for us. And we know from years of living board space stations that zero gravity is not healthy for us. It causes bones and muscles to weaken, immune deficiency, heart problems, and increased risk of things like kidney stones. | gravity - gravity, attraction aboard - on board to cause - cause, be the cause to weaken - weaken immune deficiency - immunodeficiency an increased risk - increased risk a kidney stone - kidney stone |
| But what do we know about intermediate levels of gravity, like the 1/3 G on Mars, or the 1/6 G on the Moon? Well, here is what we know: nothing. Nobody has ever lived at any intermediate level of gravity for more than a few days, so we just don't know the effects of these G levels, even on adults. Much less children who are likely to be more susceptible to developmental problems. | intermediate - intermediate, average an adult - adult susceptible /səˈseptəbl/ - receptive, sensitive a developmental problem - a developmental problem |
| This is a big problem for planetary colonies, because you can't get Earth-like gravity anywhere except earth and possibly Venus. But without children you don't have a colony, you have at best an outpost. | except - except possibly - possibly at best - at best an outpost - remote settlement, representative office, outpost |
| Orbital space colonies produce pseudo gravity through rotation, just like amusement park rides some of you may have tried. The larger the radius of rotation is, the slower it can spin and still produce an Earth-like gravity. A one-kilometer colony, for example, only needs to spin 1.3 times each minute to produce one Earth's gravity. | pseudo /ˈsjuːdəʊ/ - pseudo rotation - rotation an amusement park ride - an attraction in an amusement park to spin - spin, rotate each - each |
| Of course, if we discover that less gravity is acceptable, then we can either build smaller or spin slower. In fact, one cool thing about an orbital colony is that you can have multiple, different levels of gravity at the same time. Higher decks closer to the spin axes have proportionately less gravity. So maybe if we'll find that elderly or injured patients are safer at 1/2 G, they can just stay on a higher deck. | to discover - discover acceptable - acceptable either ... or ... - or ... or ... multiple - numerous a deck - deck, platform a spin ax - axis of rotation the elderly an injured patient - injured / injured patient |
| And in the center, you can have zero gravity sports and recreation, and still be at home in time for dinner. | recreation - recreation, entertainment |
| OK, let's talk about radiation. Free space is filled with radiation from the Sun, and much harder radiation in the form of cosmic rays which stream in from all directions. Here on Earth we're protected largely by the Earth's magnetic field, and secondarily by the tons of air above our heads. Mars, Venus and the Moon have no significant magnetic fields. And apart from Venus, not much atmosphere either. So every time you step outside there, you're dosing yourself with radiation. You'd have to stay underground most of the time to avoid problems like cataracts cancer and infertility. | free space - free space be filled with - to be filled with something a cosmic ray - cosmic radiation, beam to stream in - pour in a direction - the direction a magnetic field significant - significant, important to step outside - go out to avoid - to avoid cancer - cancer (disease) infertility - infertility |
| Orbital space colonies are built outside-in. We're going to need a few meters of soil beneath our feet anyway to support a robust biosphere. And that alone provides substantial shielding against space radiation. | outside-in - inside out soil beneath /bɪˈniːθ/ our feet - soil under our feet robust - strong, durable substantial shielding /ˈʃiːldɪŋ/ - enhanced protection |
| In fact, a colony in a low Earth orbit would have less radiation inside than we experience here on Earth. Outside of Earth’s magnetic field some additional shielding might be necessary, but it’s still nicer to have that beneath your feet than over your head. | to experience - feel, experience |
| I'm going touch only briefly upon the day/night cycle. Obviously, we evolved with the 24-hour day. The Martian day is very similar: 24.6 hours, and this may be a part of our fascination with Mars. A space colony would have exactly the day length that you want, most likely, matching Earth's. Daylight would either be sunlight, reflected into the habitat through shield mirrors, or artificial lighting, but so far overhead that it produces an outdoorsy daytime feel. | to touch upon - touch, mention to evolve - develop matching - matching daylight - daylight reflected - reflected a habitat - habitat, place of residence an outdoorsy daytime feel - the feeling of being outdoors during the daytime |
| So you can probably tell by now that I see a lot of advantages to orbital colonies. as soon as you let go of the assumption that we need a planetary surface to live on, you quickly come to the conclusion that orbital space colonies are the best place to be. In short, we can do better than Mars. | as soon as - as soon as to let go - let go an assumption to come to the conclusion - come to a conclusion |
| This is why my sons and I are building our game which we called “High Frontier". We have built it to be as accurate as possible: the physics, radiation levels, ecology and everything else is based on real science. So players of the game aren't just playing, they're exploring the vast design space and finding solutions that might actually work. | a frontier /ˈfrʌntɪə/ - border, frontier to be based on - to be based on science - science vast - extensive a solution - a solution, a way out of a situation |
| At the very least, they're learning about an alternative to planetary colonies. And we hope that some day some of those smart, educated players might help to make it actually happen. When it does, it might unfold something like this. The little green dots you see here represent orbital space colonies. Each one is home to anywhere from 10 thousand to 10 million men, women and children. | at the very least - at least to unfold - unfold, occur a dot - dot to represent - represent |
| BUT recent work based in part upon “High Frontier” has shown its best to begin in low Earth orbit, within the Earth's magnetic field. But we'll expand from there to higher Earth orbits, and then orbits near the Moon. After that, colonies around Mars might make sense with its two moons providing materials. | recent - recent, extreme within - within to expand - expand to make sense - to make sense |
| From there we'll expand into the Asteroid Belt with an estimated billion or so objects, at least 100 meters in diameter, which may not sound like much, but a 100-meter asteroid weights about 10 million metric tons. In fact, experts estimate that there is enough material in the main Asteroid Belt alone to build space colonies with the combined area of 3000 times the living land area of Earth. | the Asteroid Belt - asteroid belt estimated - installed a billion - a billion to weigh - weigh enough - enough a livable land area - land area suitable for life |
| And then there are more asteroids in Jupiter's orbit, and of course the Jovian System which has dozens of minor moons and rings massing about 10 billion tons. | the Jovian System - Jupiterian (ring) system a dozen /dʌzn/ - a dozen minor /ˈmaɪnə/ - smaller, minor massing - with mass |
| After that we'll move to the Saturn System which has similar resources. Just think of the view you would have out of the windows there! | to move - (pro) move a view - view |
| And then forward to Uranus and Neptune. And then the Kuiper Belt, with an estimated 70 thousand dwarf planets out in the cold and dark. | onward - further, forward the Kuiper Belt a dwarf planet - dwarf planet |
| The Solar System is vastly larger and richer than most people realize. It's full of exactly the materials and energy that we need. And remember, unlike past human migrations, there are no ecosystems here, no natives that will be displaced; these are sterile chunks of ice and rock just waiting for us to bring warmth, and light, and life. | the Solar System - Solar System to realize - realize, understand a native - a local resident to be displaced - to displace, to be moved a chunk of rock - a piece of stone |
| This greening of the Solar System, turning dead chunks of rock into millions of inside out worlds full of trees, and birds, and bugs, and people. This is the bright future I see for us. And it all starts here: smart, enthusiastic kids are playing a video game where they get to decide how and where to build space colonies, how to run them when they are built, how to balance the ecosystem, manage resources and budgets, and educate each generation. That's why we're building “High Frontier” and that's why it's not just a game. | greening - landscaping, ecologization inside out - turned inside out and bug is a beetle enthusiastic - enthusiastic, motivated to run - manage and generation - generation |
Grammar Minute
As you probably noticed, the video presents various grammatical tenses, we will dwell in more detail on the tenses of the Perfect group: Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous.
Let's start with the fact that in these tenses we use the auxiliary verb have/has. For the Present Perfect time, we take the 3rd form (Past Participle) as the main verb, if it is irregular (irregular), and add the ending -ed to the regular verb (regular).
We have built it to be as accurate as possible. - We developed it so that it (the game) is as accurate as possible.
Bigelow Aerospace has tested private inflatable space stations. - Bigelow Aerospace Company tested private inflatable orbital stations.
We use the Present Perfect to indicate an action that has already taken place, completed, the result of which has a meaning or consequences in the present.
BUT recent work based in part upon “High Frontier” has shown its best to begin in low Earth orbit. - Recent a work based in part on the game High Frontier, showed which is best to start in low earth orbit.
Nobody has ever lived at any intermediate level of gravity for more than a few days. - None never not lived with an average gravity level of more than a few days.
Pay attention to the words recent (recent) and ever (ever). They indicate the relevance and effectiveness of information to date.
Finally, we offer to pass a small test on the studied vocabulary and grammar.
Test on the topic "Video lesson: learn English and explore space"
We also compiled a file with new vocabulary from our article. You can download it from the link below.
(*.pdf, 318 Kb)
We hope this lesson was useful to you, you replenished your vocabulary, repeated grammar and received a portion of cognitive information. Explore space using English!
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