UNIT 15 UNIT 15 SPACE CONQUEST SPACE CONQUEST A. READING A. READING BEFORE YOU READ BEFORE YOU READ WORD IN GROUPS WORD IN GROUPS ASK AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ASK AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS 1. Who was the first human to fly into space? 1. Who was the first human to fly into space? 2. Can you name some humans to set foot on 2. Can you name some humans to set foot on the moon? the moon? 3. Who was the first Vietnamese to fly into 3. Who was the first Vietnamese to fly into space? space? WHILE YOU READ WHILE YOU READ READ THE TEXT ABOUT YURI READ THE TEXT ABOUT YURI ALEKSEYEVICH GAGARIN ALEKSEYEVICH GAGARIN 1. At 9.07 a.m. Moscow time on 12 1. At 9.07 a.m. Moscow time on 12 th th April, 1961, Yuri Gagarin April, 1961, Yuri Gagarin lifted off into space aboard the Vostok1. Approximately 12 lifted off into space aboard the Vostok1. Approximately 12 minutes later, the first human being was in orbit around the minutes later, the first human being was in orbit around the Earth at a speed of more than 17,000 miles per hour. His flight Earth at a speed of more than 17,000 miles per hour. His flight lasted 108 minutes. lasted 108 minutes. 2. The 27-year-old Soviet cosmonaut became the first person 2. The 27-year-old Soviet cosmonaut became the first person to eat and drink in weightlessness. From his window in space, to eat and drink in weightlessness. From his window in space, Gararin was able to review the earth in a way that no human Gararin was able to review the earth in a way that no human beings had done before. The first words spoken from space beings had done before. The first words spoken from space were : “ I see the Earth. It’s so beautiful.” were : “ I see the Earth. It’s so beautiful.” 3.before Gagarin’s historic flight, there were still enormous 3.before Gagarin’s historic flight, there were still enormous uncertainties. No one knew precisely what would happen to a uncertainties. No one knew precisely what would happen to a human being in the space. How would the body react to the human being in the space. How would the body react to the extreme changes in temperature? How would the mind deal extreme changes in temperature? How would the mind deal with the psychological tension? If there was a technical failure, with the psychological tension? If there was a technical failure, Gagarin might never get back to the Earth. Gagarin might never get back to the Earth. 4. The success of Gagarin’s flight attracted 4. The success of Gagarin’s flight attracted worldwide attention and made him a hero. In a worldwide attention and made him a hero. In a telegram to Moscow, U.S. president John F. Kennedy telegram to Moscow, U.S. president John F. Kennedy wrote, “ The people of the United states share with wrote, “ The people of the United states share with the people Soviet Union their satisfaction for the safe the people Soviet Union their satisfaction for the safe flight of the astronaut in man’s first venture into flight of the astronaut in man’s first venture into space. We congratulate you and the Soviet scientists space. We congratulate you and the Soviet scientists and engineers who made this feat possible…” and engineers who made this feat possible…” 5. Gagarin could have made another space flight if 5. Gagarin could have made another space flight if the tragic accident had not occurred. He died in a the tragic accident had not occurred. He died in a plane crash on a routine training flight in March plane crash on a routine training flight in March 1968. After his death, his hometown of Gzhatsk was 1968. After his death, his hometown of Gzhatsk was renamed Gagarin, and the Cosmonaut Training renamed Gagarin, and the Cosmonaut Training Center at Star City, Russia, was given the name of Center at Star City, Russia, was given the name of this national hero. this national hero. TASK 1 TASK 1 PARAGRAGHS PARAGRAGHS HEADINGS HEADINGS 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 A. A. The tragic accident The tragic accident B. B. The lift-off The lift-off C. C. Congratulations Congratulations D. D. A view on Earth A view on Earth E. E. Uncertainties Uncertainties PARAGRAGHS PARAGRAGHS HEADINGS HEADINGS 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 B. The lift-off B. The lift-off E. Uncertainties E. Uncertainties D. A view on Earth D. A view on Earth C. Congratulations C. Congratulations A. The tragic accident A. The tragic accident ANSWERS TASK 2 TASK 2 ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ANSWER THE QUESTIONS 1. How old was Gagarin when he became the 1. How old was Gagarin when he became the first human being in space? first human being in space? 2. How long he was in space? 2. How long he was in space? 3. What questions were raised before 3. What questions were raised before Gagarin’s space flight? Gagarin’s space flight? 4. What was the speed of his spacecraft in 4. What was the speed of his spacecraft in orbit around the Earth? orbit around the Earth? 5. Why couldn’t Gagarin make a new space 5. Why couldn’t Gagarin make a new space flight? flight? 6. What was done after Gagarin’s death to 6. What was done after Gagarin’s death to honour this national hero? honour this national hero? ANSWERS ANSWERS 1. He was 27 then. 1. He was 27 then. 2. He was in space for 108 minutes. 2. He was in space for 108 minutes. 3. They were what would happen to a human being in 3. They were what would happen to a human being in space or how the body would react to the extreme space or how the body would react to the extreme changes in temperature or how the mind would deal changes in temperature or how the mind would deal with the psychological tension. with the psychological tension. 4. It was more than 17,000 miles per hour. 4. It was more than 17,000 miles per hour. 5. Because He died in a plane crash on a routine 5. Because He died in a plane crash on a routine training flight in March 1968. training flight in March 1968. 6. After his death, his hometown of Gzhatsk was 6. After his death, his hometown of Gzhatsk was renamed Gagarin, and the Cosmonaut Training renamed Gagarin, and the Cosmonaut Training Center at Star City, Russia, was given the name of Center at Star City, Russia, was given the name of this national hero. this national hero. AFTER YOU READ AFTER YOU READ impossible named after lasted gravity impossible named after lasted gravity success view in space cosmonaut success view in space cosmonaut On 12 On 12 th th April, 1961, Yuri Gagarin April, 1961, Yuri Gagarin