Тема / Топик по английскому языку:
Space Exploration
Exploration of outer space in the 20th century has produced discoveries and inventions that will forever change the way people live, learn and interact.
The dream of space travel is as old as history but in the 20th century the dream became reality with astonishing swiftness. As you recall, the first aeroplane flight occurred in 1903 and in 1926 the first liquid-fuelled rocket was launched that travelled 200 feet.
After World War II, the superpower opposition between the USA and the Soviet Union stimulated rocket research and development. Both nations realized that large rockets can be used to attack an enemy from thousands of miles away and that satellites put into orbit around the Earth by rockets could transmit messages.
The Soviet launch of sputnik, the first man-made object to overcome gravity, began the space age. The Soviet Union soon achieved many other firsts. In 1961, the Soviet Union put the first man, Yuri Gagarin, into space. The first long space flights, a woman in space and space walk were all Soviet achievements. The Soviet Union still retains its leadership in the peaceful application of space exploration. In its Salyut 6, it investigated such vital matters as the causes of cancer, since cells are studied in gravity-free space. The construction of metals that can resist gravity has resulted in tools of incredible hardness; improved seeds have been developed in Salyut.
In the early 1960s the United States organized the Apollo space program. This research program concentrated on landing a man on the moon. Two Americans, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrim, walked on the lunar surface in July 1961.
Since the first moon landing, many nations have developed programs of space exploration. A network of communication satellites made world-wide television and telephone service possible. Space shuttles allowed regular trips between Earth and space. Scientific satellites were put in the Earth’s orbit. Voyages to Venus were made by the Soviet spaceships, voyages to Mars, Jupiter and Saturn - by the American spaceships.
This scientific progress has since resulted in hundreds of benefits for mankind, from the weather satellites whose information we see in our daily newspapers and on TV, to determining from outer space where fish is, where natural resources are hidden in the earth and in discovering areas which are becoming deserts.
Topical Vocabulary
Answer the questions:
- How has the space exploration changed the life of mankind?
- Why can you say that the dream of space travel became reality with astounding swiftness?
- In what way has the superpower opposition stimulated the space research?
- What «firsts» in space exploration has the Soviet Union achieved?
- What peaceful applications of space exploration can you name?
- What did the US Apollo space program concentrate on?
- What benefits for mankind has space exploration brought?
Translate into English:
- Мечта человека об исследовании космоса стала реальностью в XX веке.
- Примерно через 20 лет после первого полета на аэроплане была запущена первая ракета на жидком топливе.
- После второй мировой войны сверхдержавы разработали программы исследований в области запуска ракет.
- Ракеты можно использовать в целях нападения с больших расстояний; спутники, запущенные на орбиту Земли, можно использовать для передачи сообщений.
- Эпоха освоения космоса началась с запуска Советским Союзом искусственного спутника - первого искусственного объекта, преодолевшего земное притяжение.
- Советский Союз первым запустил человека в космос, первым осуществил длительный космический полет и выход человека в открытый космос.
- США в 1960-х годах разработали программу «Аполлон», главной целью которой был выход человека на поверхность Луны.
- Советский Союз сохранял лидерство в области мирного использования результатов исследования космоса.
- Была создана сеть спутников связи, осуществлены полеты космических кораблей на Марс, Юпитер, Сатурн, Венеру.
- Освоение космоса принесло человечеству неисчислимые выгоды.
- Метеорологические спутники дают возможность предсказывать погоду.
- Из космоса можно увидеть, где находятся месторождения полезных ископаемых.
- С помощью спутников можно проводить исследования в различных областях науки.
Посмотреть ответы
2. Approximately 20 years after the first aeroplane flight, the first liquid-fuelled rocket was launched.
3. After World War II the superpowers organized research programs in the field of launching rockets.
4. Rockets can be used to attack an enemy from a long distance; satellites put into orbit around the Earth can be used to transmit messages.
5. The space age began with the Soviet launch of a sputnik - the first man-made object to overcome gravity.
6. The Soviet Union achieved many firsts: a man in space, the long space flight, space walk.
7. In 1960-ies the USA organized the «Apollo» program, which concentrated on landing a man on the moon.
8. The Soviet Union retained its leadership in the peaceful application of space exploration.
9. A network of communication satellites was created, voyages to Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus were made.
10. Space exploration has resulted in numerous benefits for mankind.
11. Weather satellites make weather forecasts possible.
12. From space you can determine where natural (mineral) resources are.
13. With the help of satellites you can make research in different fields of science.