Space exploration gave moments of hope in a difficult year.
Sent to three countries Spacecraft Towards Mars in 2020. The astronauts entered orbit from the United States for the first time in almost 10 years. And robotic explorers collected rocks from the moon and a Asteroids
High expectations for 2021
Expectations for 2021 are also high. It is expected to land on Mars next February and the planned launch of the James Webb Space Telescope is scheduled to take place in the fall. The giant telescope is replacing the famous Hubble Space Telescope.
Other developments are also expected. Aerospace company Boeing hopes to join SpaceX in launching astronauts. And space Tourism May eventually descend from the ground.
Scott Hubbard Served as the first director of the space agency’s (NASA) Mars program. He is now studying at Stanford University. He said, “As much as 2021 space research promises to be brilliant Place, Maybe even more. “
Big projects went ahead
However, the coronavirus crisis caused problems for all space programs in 2020. However, very important projects were still ahead.
The US, China and the United Arab Emirates launched a spacecraft to Mars.
NASA’s Perseverance Robot Explorer is scheduled to land on February 18. Diligence will cut into dry ground, collect Samples To return to Earth.
The UAE spacecraft is the first attempt to visit another planet in the country. He will study the Martin atmosphere.
China’s Tiananmen-1 will find signs of ancient life on the red planet.
China also explored the moon in 2020. In December, a Chinese spacecraft landed and then exited the lunar surface. It collects the first lunar rocks to return to Earth since the 1970s.
Japan brought back fragments of the asteroid Ryugu. More planet Samples NASA’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft found samples of asteroid Bennu in October. Samples are planned to return in 2023.
Elon Musk’s company SpaceX did a lot in 2020. In May, SpaceX became the first private company to send people to first class, a success that can only be claimed by three powerful countries.
In November, four more astronauts rode the SpaceX Dragon to the International Space Station. Three weeks later, SpaceX launched its largest shipment yet on the space station for NASA.
Mark Kelly, a senator elected for the state of Arizona, said the incident was “something Americans should have.” Proud Of
Until the SpaceX flights, there were three Russian Soyuz spacecraft to get astronauts to the space station after NASA flights were shut down.
SpaceX ended the year with a test flight of the Starship, a spacecraft company building to take people to the moon and Mars. The December 9 incident was marked by a landing explosion. Still, Kasturi said he is very happy.
In addition, SpaceX is increasing the number of people willing to ride in its Dragon spaceship. By the end of next year, SpaceX expects to launch the first privately funded Dragon flight in a deal with Houston-based Axiom Space.
Xiao’s Michael Lopez-Allegria will accompany former NASA astronaut and former president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, Israeli businessman Eaton Stebbay. He will be joined by two other people who pay to visit the space station.
“This is the true beginning of a private spaceflight and will get rolling towards this ball Multiple Private Mission “Going into orbit every year,” Lopez-Allegria said in an email.
Other space-travel companies are still conducting test flights. They are Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin and Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic. Those companies have not yet set a date to send people on short flights to space and on edge.
U.S. In Future of Space Programs
US President Donald Trump has said he wants American astronauts to land on the moon by 2024. It will be the first since NASA’s Apollo program more than 50 years ago.
In December, NASA unveiled 18 astronauts who will train for a lunar program called Artemis.
George Logson and John Logsden of the Washington University’s Space Policy Institute said the last four years Positive For the US Civil Space Program. “No … major programs have been canceled, the human research program has been given a clear direction, and Funding Was increased for existing programs. “
I am John Russell.
Marcia Dunn reported the story to the Associated Press. John Russell accepted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, was the junior editor.
2020 was a huge success in space exploration
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The words in this story
Spacecraft – n. A vehicle used to travel in outer space
Asteroids – n. One of the thousands of small planets that circle the sun
Tourism – n. A place activity for fun
Place – n. A small surface area that is different from other areas: a specific space or area
Sample – n. A small amount that gives you information about what has been taken from that item
Multiple – Adjective More than one
Mission – n. Any work or job that is given to someone to do
Proud – Adjective Makes people happy
Positive – Adjective Good result, not bad
Funding – n. Money is available for the purpose
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