Space exploration vocabulary Flashcards
space exploration
fundamental reaserch aimed at finding out new information about the universe
terrestrial
living on the land or on the ground, rather than in water, in trees or in the air
extraterrestrial
sth, f.e. a creature that comes from another planet; a creature that may exist on another planet
collapse
fail suddenly and completely OR run into one another with an explosion
explode
burst (= break apart) or make something burst loudly and violently, causing damage
orbit
a curved path followed by a planet or an object as it moves around another planet, star, moon, etc.
satellite
a natural object that moves around a larger natural object in space OR an electronic device that is sent into space and moves around the earth or another planet
host
planet with a satellite
debris
pieces of wood, metal, building materials, etc. that are left after something has been destroyed
outer space
the area outside the earth’s atmosphere where all the other planets and stars are
dwarf planet
smaller planet, f.e. Pluto
astronomer
a scientist who studies astronomy
observation
the act of watching somebody/something carefully for a period of time, especially to learn something
spacecraft
a vehicle that travels in space (rocket, rover, satellite)
surface
the top layer of an area of water or land
government funding
money given by the government to fulfill a purpose
pour money into
waste a lot of money on
unravel the mysteries
find out the answers to the enternal questions
contribute to the public good
benefit the society in a long run
funnel taxpayers’ money into more
down-to-earth projects
use the money for sth more practical
derive benefits
find out ways to use sth practically
scientific pursuits
reaserches, usually fundamental ones
private ventures
risky businesses not based on governmental fundings
make human space flight commercially
viable
make launching people into space financially beneficial
go beyond low-Earth orbit
leave the Earth orbit
ferrying astronauts to the International
Space Station
process of transporting astronauts to the International
Space Station
launch the last mission
finish a space programm
test pilots
pilots trying out a spacecraft
descent of a rover
landing of a small vehicle made by NASA and sent to explore the surface of a planet
satellite imagery
photos and videos taken by a satellite
experience weightlessness
experience the fact of having or appearing to have no weight, for example because there is no gravity
igniting in the lower atmosphere
catching fire when coming closer to the Earth
break even
become financially justified (money spent=money gained)
Possible questions to consider:
1) Should governments pour money into space explortion ot should it solve down-to-earth problems first?
2) What potential value can a fundamental research have? Is it destined to break even/become commercially viable?
3) Was the space race of the 1960s vital and heroic or meaningless and wasteful? Why?
4) Is the public interest to space exploration fading? Why/why not?
5) Is there life on other planets? Is it possible to get into contact with it? Is it possible to find a livable planet soon enough? Why/why not?
