B1 – Intermediate
In the exciting world of space exploration, sometimes things don’t go as planned. Recently, the Starship spacecraft, a super-advanced space vehicle, faced a big problem—it exploded. This event is a reminder that exploring space is not easy, and it comes with challenges.
Listen to this audio and read the transcript about SpaceX’s Starship explosions.
https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/starship-spacecraft-explodes-level-3/
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “interplanetary” mean, “SpaceX’s Starship designed for lunar and interplanetary travel achieved its first spaceflight but experienced a failure minutes later.” Use it in a sentence.
- What does “uncrewed“, “The rocket was launched from Texas and it aimed for a 90-minute uncrewed flight, intending to land in the Pacific near Hawaii.” Use it in a sentence.
- What does “ground” mean? “The Federal Aviation Administration grounded the rocket for safety and environmental assessments.” Use it in a sentence.
Discussion Question:
- What is the purpose of SpaceX’s Starship rocket?
- Why do you think SpaceX continues to conduct tests even if there are failures?
- What are some potential challenges or risks associated with developing and testing rockets like Starship?
- How would you feel about being on a rocket like Starship, considering the recent test failures?
- Do you think space exploration, despite its challenges, is important for the future? Why / Why not?