(2)
Russia’s Mir space station was supposed to be the first destination for space tourists. But in March 2001, the Russian Aerospace Agency brought Mir down into the Pacific Ocean. As it turned out, bringing down Mir only temporarily delayed the first tourist trip into space.
The Mir crash did cancel plans for a new reality-based game show from NBC, which was going to be called Destination Mir. The Survivor-like TV show was scheduled to air in fall 2001.Participants on the show were to go through training at Russia’s cosmonaut training center, Star City. Each week, one of the participants would be eliminated from the show, with the winner receiving a trip to the Mir space station. The Mir crash has ruled out NBC’s space plans for now. NASA is against beginning space tourism until the International Space Station is completed in 2006.
Russia is not alone in its interest in space tourism. There are several projects underway to commercialize space travel. Here are a few of the groups that might take tourists to space:
Space Island Group is going to build a ring-shaped, rotating “commercial space infrastructure” that will resemble the Discovery spacecraft in the movie “2001: A Space Odyssey.”Space Island says it will build its space city out of empty NASA space-shuttle fuel tanks, and place it about 400 miles above Earth. The space city will rotate once per minute to create a gravitational pull one-third as strong as Earth’s.
According to their vision statement, Space Adventures plans to “fly tens of thousands of people in space over the next 10-15 years and beyond, around the moon, and back, from spaceports both on Earth and in space, to and from private space stations, and board dozen of different vehicles...”
Even Hilton Hotels has shown interest in the space tourism industry and possibility of building or co-funding a space hotel. However, the company did say that it believes such a space hotel is 15 to 20 years away.
Initially, space tourism will offer simple accommodations at best. For instance, if the International Space Station is used as a tourist attraction, guests won’t find the luxurious surroundings of a hotel room on Earth. It has been designed for conducting research, not entertainment. However, the first generation of space hotels should offer tourists a much more comfortable experience.
In regard to a concept for a space hotel initially planned by Space Island, such a hotel could offer guests every convenience they might find at a hotel on Earth, and some they might not. The small gravitational pull created by the rotating space city would allow space-tourists and residents to walk around and function facilities would be possible. Additionally, space tourists would even be able to take space walks.
21. Which of the following statement is NOT true about Russia’s Mir Space Station according to the passage?
A. It was planned to be the first destination for space tourists.
B. It was renamed Destination Mir in a game-show of NBC.
C. It was crashed down into the Pacific Ocean by Russian Aerospace Agency.
D. It put off the first trip into space for the time being.
22. The game-show from NBC was ______.
A. a reality-based competition for astronauts.
B. a competition game launched in the fall of 2001.
C. a TV show whose survivors would go on a trip to Mir Space Station.
D. a reality game for those who enjoyed cosmonautic training.
23. Which of the following statement is true according to the vision statement of Space Adventures plans of Space Island?
A. A commercial space infrastructure named “Space Odyssey” will be built.
B. The space city will be built by employing the empty NASA space-shuttle fuel tanks.
C. The space city will rotate around the earth for about 400 miles.
D. Different vehicles will be involved in taking tourists to and from the earth and the space.
24, What may space tourists possibly enjoy in the space hotels?
A. The luxurious facilities in the space hotel.
B. All the conveniences of a hotel on earth.
C. Walking around the space freely.
D. Walking around the space city and possibly in the space.
25. What can be inferred as the theme of this passage?
A. Space Accommodation. B. Space Adventure.
C. Space Plan. D. Space Station.
