What Is It Like to Become an Astronaut?

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Exercise 1

Vocabulary

demanding

Adjective

dɪˈmændɪŋ

(of a job) needing a lot of skill, patience, effort, etc.

I have a very demanding manager who puts a lot of pressure on me.

It can be difficult to handle demanding customers.

spacewalk

Noun

ˈspeɪswɔːk

a period of time that an astronaut spends in space outside a spacecraft

Astronauts go on spacewalks mostly in order to perform maintenance work on the spaceship.

boyhood

Noun

ˈbɔɪhʊd

the time in a man’s life when he is a boy

Laura, meet Mark! He is one of my boyhood friends!

assume

Verb

əˈsuːm

(in this case) to take or begin to have power, responsibility, or control

He just assumed the role of team captain.

The driver of the car assumed responsibility for the accident.

silly

Adjective

ˈsɪliː

stupid or embarrassing, especially in a way that is more typical of a child than an adult

He is fond of wearing silly hats.

She loves telling silly jokes.

Don't be so silly! Of course we will buy you a chocolate as well!

Exercise 2

Article

AI Generated Audio––:–– / ––:––

What Is It Like to Become an Astronaut?

Colonel Terry Virts always knew he wanted to be a pilot or an astronaut.

He had pictures of galaxies and planes on his walls as a child. He never thought he could actually become an astronaut, but he did the things he had to do to qualify. He got a mathematics degree, went into the Air Force, and eventually became a test pilot. In 2000, he was accepted to the astronaut candidate program.

As an active astronaut with the U.S. Space Program Virts has one of the most demanding jobs in the world. He has flown the space shuttle, conducted spacewalks, and was the commander of the International Space Station in spring 2015.

AI Generated Audio––:–– / ––:––

‘Excited beyond belief’

Upon being selected for the astronaut program, “I was excited beyond belief. This is my boyhood dream, and I finally made it happen,” Virts said.

Virts received training in medicine, science, and the Russian language. And he learned how to repair and maintain the International Space Station. Eventually he was taught how to walk in space.

His first trip to space was in 2010, when he piloted the shuttle Endeavor.

“The first space flight is amazing. First of all, walking out to the space shuttle is an amazing experience,” he said.

Four years later, Virts returned to space as a flight engineer of the International Space Station, later assuming command. That mission lasted 200 days, during which he conducted three spacewalks, totaling almost 20 hours.

“There’s nothing like spacewalking. It’s a very unique experience,” he said.

“You’re in this very heavy, very stiff spacesuit that’s basically a spaceship. Except for there’s a one-millimeter-thin plastic glass, and on the other side of that is space. It’s really an awesome experience,” he said.

AI Generated Audio––:–– / ––:––

Photographs from space

Virts said one of his favorite things to do in space is to take photographs. He has shared hundreds of pictures of our planet on Twitter.

“It’s just beautiful. You feel like you’re seeing the heavens and earth. Your home planet is over there, and you’re over here. It’s a surreal, emotional experience, and so the little silly things you watch on the news every night just don’t matter. They are just not a big deal. So, from that point of view, your perspective changes,” he remembered.

Virts said every astronaut’s favorite mission is the next one. He is waiting his turn to go back to space.

Exercise 3

Questions

What did Terry Virts have to do to qualify for an astronaut position?

What did Virts do as an astronaut?

What is one of his favorite things to do in space?

What does Virts say about looking at Earth down from space?

Exercise 4

Discussion

What do you think about Terry Virts’ description of what it is like to be an astronaut?

In what way do you think your perspective on Earth can change while watching it from space?

Why are astronauts important for the development of our world?

Advanced Exercises

The following exercises are for an additional lesson.

Exercise 5

Summary

Please make a short summary of the article that you have just read. (1-2 minutes)

Exercise 6

For and Against

Bring arguments first in favor, and then against the idea that only exceptional people can become astronauts. (2-3 minutes each)

Exercise 7

Discussion

Are there any astronauts from your country? If so, how many? If not, why do you think this is the case?

Why do you think that pilots and engineers are the best suited people to become astronauts?

Why do you think there has been such a high number of accidents involving space shuttles so far?

Do you think that space shuttles are humankind’s most important achievement? Why or why not?

As we begin to comprehend that the earth itself is a kind of manned spaceship hurtling through the infinity of space—it will seem increasingly absurd that we have not better organized the life of the human family. - Hubert Humphrey. What do you think about this statement?

My view of our planet was a glimpse of divinity. - Edgar Mitchell. What do you think about this statement?

Parts of this lesson are based on:

An article by Voice of America.