M4 Unit 9B Main Idea

Front

Unmanned spacecraft have explored Mars and beyond for decades, but humans haven't gone beyond 650 km from Earth since 1973. Interest in new missions is rising, led by private companies rather than government agencies.

Back

The interest in space exploration among private companies is growing.

Front

SpaceX, a private company near Los Angeles, sent an unmanned rocket to the ISS in 2012. It competes to replace the U.S. government shuttle as the ISS's supply ship.

Back

SpaceX is trying to take the place of the government as the ISS's supply ship.

Front

Planetary Resources is investing heavily in research to mine asteroids for precious metals, aiming for wealth and driving private space exploration.

Back

Planetary Resources is spending lots of money on research to get precious metals from asteroids, seeking wealth as a motivation for private space exploration.

Front

Exploration has historically been driven by the search for resources.

Back

wealth

Front

Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, is investing his fortune in a space program. SpaceX is developing a new rocket capable of carrying twice the cargo of the U.S. space shuttle for about one-fifth the price. Musk aims to create reusable rockets, stating, 'Creating reusable rockets will be extremely difficult, but I do not think it’s impossible.'

Back

rocket

Front

Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, is investing his fortune in a space program. SpaceX is developing a rocket that can transport supplies to the ISS, capable of carrying twice the cargo of the U.S. space shuttle for one-fifth the price. Musk aims to reduce costs by creating reusable rockets, which he believes is challenging but possible. What does 'it' refer to?

Back

reusable rockets

Front

For Musk, creating reusable rockets is part of a bigger plan: establishing a human colony on Mars. NASA has succeeded with unmanned spacecraft but hasn't launched a manned mission. Musk believes SpaceX can send astronauts to Mars in 20 years and create a self-sustaining civilization. He emphasizes the need to take millions of people and equipment to Mars for exploration and making life multi-planetary.

Back

NASA

Front

For Musk, creating reusable rockets is part of a bigger plan: establish a human colony on Mars. SpaceX could send millions of people and equipment to create a self-sustaining civilization. It’s about making life multi-planetary and exploring the stars.

Back

astronauts

Front

Another company, Planetary Resources, is backed by billionaires. The word 'backed' can be replaced with _______ .

Back

supported

Front

Musk claims it can carry twice the cargo of the U.S. space shuttle for one-fifth the price. The phrase 'will be capable of carrying' can be replaced with ____.

Back

will be able to carry, can carry, is able to carry.