Jessica Watkins leads new SpaceX station crew

1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word space?
2. Would you like to live on a space station? Why or why not?
3. Have you ever waited through a long delay? What happened?

commander

the leader of a team or mission, especially in the military or space

capsule

the small spacecraft where astronauts sit during launch and landing

leak

a problem where liquid or gas escapes from a hole or crack

delay

a wait that makes something happen later than planned

liftoff

the moment a rocket rises from the ground into the sky

orbit

the curved path a spacecraft follows around Earth or another body

transit

a journey from one place to another over a set time

replace

to take the place of someone or something

1. Where did the rocket launch from?
2. Who became the first Black woman to lead a crew to orbit?
3. How long will the astronauts stay at the space station?
4. Why was the mission delayed before launch?
5. Which astronaut expects a new baby during the mission?

Present perfect vs past simple

Use past simple for finished past times (e.g., Thursday, in 2022). Use present perfect (have/has + past participle) for life experience or results up to now with ever/never/already/so far/since/for. For example: "Watkins stayed on the ISS in 2022" becomes "Watkins has stayed on the ISS before."

• SpaceX launched a new crew to the International Space Station.
• The mission had a three-week delay to fix the capsule's fuel leak.

Complete each gap with past simple or present perfect.

1. The rocket (lift off) ___ on Thursday.
2. Engineers already (fix) ___ the fuel leak.
3. Watkins (visit) ___ the station in 2022.
4. Astronauts (keep) ___ in touch during missions so far.
5. Clouds (threaten) ___ the countdown earlier.

1. What qualities should a space mission commander have?
2. Is a quick eight-hour transit to the ISS important? Why?
3. How might long missions affect astronauts' families?
4. Should countries always cooperate on space missions? Why or why not?