Reading Passage: Space Exploration

Space Exploration 

Space exploration is the investigation, by means of manned and unmanned spacecrafts, of the reaches of the universe far beyond the earth’s atmosphere and the utilisation of the information gained to increase knowledge of the cosmos and assist humanity. 

The possibility of exploring space has excited people in many walks of life, including pilots and passengers on board aircraft. Only government can afford the high cost of launching spacecrafts. 

There have been many major milestones in space exploration. The first artificial earth satellite- Sputnik 1 – was launched by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957. The first human to go to space was Yuri Gagarin, a Russian. He was launched for a one-orbit journey around the earth on 12 April 1961. America astronauts walked on the surface of the moon with the first lunar landing on 20 July 1969. 

A total of twelve Americans on six separate Apollo missions set foot on the moon between July 1969 and December 1972. Since then, no humans have left the earth’s orbit, but earth-orbiting satellites and robotics spacecrafts journeying away from the earth have gathered useful data about the earth, the sun and other planetary bodies in the solar system and the universe. Robotic spacecrafts have landed on the Moon, venus, mars and the asteroid eros. 

One major pillar of space exploration is the development of rocket technology. A rocket burns fuel and pushes out smoke backwards. This moves the rocket forward. In a three-stage rocket, three rockets are designed to work in series. The first is fired on the ground. It carries the other two rockets and the spacecraft to a predetermined height in the atmosphere. The second rocket is fired in the atmosphere. It carries the third rocket and the spacecraft to a greater height in the atmosphere. Then the third rocket is fired, which carries the spacecraft into outer space. Depending on the programme of the space exploration, the spacecraft may circle the earth or proceed to some other scheduled destination. 

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is the national space agency of Nigeria. Founded on 1 August 2001, its main objective it to establish a ‘fundamental policy for the development of space science and technology’. The initial scope of the agency includes: the study of basic space science in order to lay the foundation for deriving maximum benefit from the nation’s participation in the space enterprise, the attainment of space capabilities, research, design and manufacture particularly in the areas of instrumentation, rocketry and small satellites. 

(Partially adapted from NASRDA website)

 

What is the nationality of the first man to go into space?

In two sentences, describe Nigerian's attempt at space exploration.

When did the first man land on the moon?

Apart from humans, what other things can be used to explore space?

Which set of people, apart from pilots, has always been excited about the possibility of space exploration?

Space Exploration 

Space exploration is the investigation, by means of manned and unmanned spacecrafts, of the reaches of the universe far beyond the earth’s atmosphere and the utilisation of the information gained to increase knowledge of the cosmos and assist humanity. 

The possibility of exploring space has excited people in many walks of life, including pilots and passengers on board aircraft. Only government can afford the high cost of launching spacecrafts. 

There have been many major milestones in space exploration. The first artificial earth satellite- Sputnik 1 – was launched by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957. The first human to go to space was Yuri Gagarin, a Russian. He was launched for a one-orbit journey around the earth on 12 April 1961. America astronauts walked on the surface of the moon with the first lunar landing on 20 July 1969. 

A total of twelve Americans on six separate Apollo missions set foot on the moon between July 1969 and December 1972. Since then, no humans have left the earth’s orbit, but earth-orbiting satellites and robotics spacecrafts journeying away from the earth have gathered useful data about the earth, the sun and other planetary bodies in the solar system and the universe. Robotic spacecrafts have landed on the Moon, venus, mars and the asteroid eros. 

One major pillar of space exploration is the development of rocket technology. A rocket burns fuel and pushes out smoke backwards. This moves the rocket forward. In a three-stage rocket, three rockets are designed to work in series. The first is fired on the ground. It carries the other two rockets and the spacecraft to a predetermined height in the atmosphere. The second rocket is fired in the atmosphere. It carries the third rocket and the spacecraft to a greater height in the atmosphere. Then the third rocket is fired, which carries the spacecraft into outer space. Depending on the programme of the space exploration, the spacecraft may circle the earth or proceed to some other scheduled destination. 

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is the national space agency of Nigeria. Founded on 1 August 2001, its main objective it to establish a ‘fundamental policy for the development of space science and technology’. The initial scope of the agency includes: the study of basic space science in order to lay the foundation for deriving maximum benefit from the nation’s participation in the space enterprise, the attainment of space capabilities, research, design and manufacture particularly in the areas of instrumentation, rocketry and small satellites. 

(Partially adapted from NASRDA website) 

Question - The word cosmos as used in the first paragraph may also mean

• Venus

• Moon

• universe

• spacecraft

Which one of the following has landed on Mars?

• Asteroid Eros

• twelve Americans

• robotic spacecraft

• Yuri Gagarin

Which one of the following can afford the cost of launching a spacecraft?

• national government

• Twelve Americans

• Russians

• Apollo

Which one of the following words can replace milestones as used in the third paragraph?

• events

• possibilities

• reaches

• robots

When a three-stage rocket is fired, which one of the rockets carries the spacecraft into outer space?

• the first rocket

• the second rocket

• the third rocket

• the first and second rockets