Outer Space2 AModule English Toolkit 1 - Sports Candidates to become astronauts are eligible for a mission after more than two years of training.. Applicants also do plenty of physical e
Trang 1Outer Space
2 AModule
English Toolkit 1 - Sports
Candidates to become astronauts are eligible for
a mission after more than two years of training
The programme does not only involve preparation
in specific fields such as Earth Science, Space
Science and Engineering Applicants also do
plenty of physical exercises to get ready to work in
space conditions
During the first month, candidates train in
parachute jumping and military water and
land survival This will help them if there is
an unplanned landing back on Earth Another
for space walk training After all this practice,
aspirants take a swimming test They swim
three-lengths of a 25-metre pool without stopping,
and after that, cover the same length but wearing
a flight suit and tennis shoes Apart from this,
candidates tread water with the flight suit during
ten minutes
While training, possible future astronauts are also
introduced to factors present in space that affect
body functions For example, they experience
microgravity conditions in a modified aircraft
that produces periods of weightlessness through
manoeuvres This practice is repeated forty
times in a day! And it exposes passengers to
what will happen to their bodies while in space
Because of weak gravity, a greater amount of
body fluids flows to the upper part of the body, affecting the cardiovascular system Some effects are nasal congestion, headaches and nausea
Weightlessness also weakens bones and muscles
For this reason, it is essential that astronauts be in good shape
If candidates finally get selected for a flight, they will get prepared for the specific mission
in special simulators for at least ten months A Neutral Buoyancy Simulator, a huge pool that contains replicas of space station modules in its bottom, is used for training astronauts for space walks and body motion in weightless conditions
Approximately ten hours spent under water amount to one hour walked in space Astronaut candidates also get familiarised with space shuttle facilities and learn how to operate them In this way, astronauts learn to deal with any problems that may arise and are ready for real space travel
that the word astronaut used in the United States means sailor among the stars?
Cosmonaut is used in Russia and it means sailor of the universe Astronauts in the
Chinese space program are sometimes called taikonauts Taikonaut comes from the
Chinese words tai kong (outer space)
http://www.nasa.gov/worldbook/astronaut_worldbook.html
Did you know
Astronauts training
Trang 22 AModule
English Toolkit 1 - Sports
Activities
2 Read the text again and find the reason for…
a training in land and water survival:
b taking a swimming test:
c .being scuba qualified:
d reproducing microgravity conditions:
e training deep down a huge pool:
I (become) a candidate astronaut after many interviews and medical tests I (take) a swimming test I (swim) in the pool with and without the flight suit and then, (tread) water for ten minutes As an astronaut, I (spend) more than ten months preparing for the mission and
(get) used to the effects of microgravity.
4 Discuss What do you think of astronaut training?
Write a list of ideas to share with the class These
questions are given as a guide.
1 Read the text and put the pictures in order Use key words from the text to
support your answers.
3 An astronaut explains his process of selection as an aspirant Complete the blanks
with the Simple Past form of the verbs in brackets All the verbs are irregular!
Is it more difficult than training for any other job / activity?
Is it more dangerous? Why? Did you think training was less or more
intense than what the text informs? Can anyone apply to become an
astronaut? What are the advantages of being an astronaut?
What are the risks?
Use the ideas generated in the discussion to write a
paragraph about astronaut training.