Apollo Program: The Brink of Disaster

Apollo Program: The Brink of Disaster
Quizzed ESL Activities

Summary

The Apollo Program: A Historic Space Exploration Effort

The US and Soviet Union were engaged in a space race during the Cold War, with the Soviets launching Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into space first, followed by the US launching astronaut Alan Shepard. In response, President John F. Kennedy set a goal to land a man on the moon before the end of the decade, which became the Apollo program, an unprecedented engineering and scientific undertaking.

Early Successes and Challenges

The goal was achieved in 1969 with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon. However, afterwards, interest in space exploration faded, and NASA’s budget was slashed, limiting further lunar flights. The next mission, Apollo 12, aimed to achieve a pinpoint landing next to the Surveyor 3 probe on the moon. The crew, consisting of Pete Conrad, Dick Gordon, and Alan Bean, faced a significant challenge when two lightning strikes occurred during launch, but a young flight controller, John Aaron, quickly came up with a solution, saving the mission.

Apollo 13: A Mission of Survival

Apollo 13’s mission patch featured “Ex Luna, Scientia” meaning “from the Moon, knowledge”. The crew, led by Commander Jim Lovell, included rookie astronauts Fred Haise and Jack Swigert. However, an oxygen tank explosion occurred due to an electrical arc caused by damaged Teflon insulation, damaging the second tank and putting the crew’s lives at risk. The crew shut down the Command Module and climbed into the lunar module, Aquarius, which had limited resources, as their only chance for survival.

  • The crew faced life-threatening dangers, including carbon dioxide poisoning, which was mitigated by a makeshift air purifier made from a lithium hydroxide canister, cardboard, tape, and an astronaut sock.
  • NASA staff worked to solve engineering and navigation problems to get them back to Earth.
  • The crew survived the flight back to Earth and successfully re-entered the atmosphere in the Command Module, despite concerns about its heat shield and parachutes.

Later Missions and Achievements

Alan Shepard, an original American space hero, overcame Meniere’s disease through an experimental surgery and returned to space as the commander of Apollo 14. Despite facing numerous glitches and challenges during the mission, Shepard and his crew made a perfect landing on the Moon, completing two Moonwalks and gathering more samples than previous missions.

  • Subsequent missions, including Apollo 15 and 16, made significant discoveries, such as unearthing a 4.5 billion-year-old piece of the Moon’s primordial crust.
  • Apollo 17 was the final flight of the Apollo program, with Gene Cernan, Ron Evans, and Harrison Schmidt on board, marking the first time a professional geologist walked on the moon.

Legacy and Future of Space Exploration

The Apollo program came to an end in 1972, but NASA was already preparing for new space ventures, including the launch of the Skylab space station in 1973. The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975 marked the end of the space race, and the first flight of the Space Shuttle in 1981 began a new era in space flight. Astronaut Gene Cernan hoped for a future return to the moon, leaving behind a legacy of historic achievements and paving the way for future space exploration efforts.

Key Vocabulary

Term Definition Example Usage
Apollo Program A NASA spaceflight program that landed the first humans on the Moon. The Apollo program was a historic achievement in space exploration, with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon in 1969.
Cosmonaut A person trained to travel in a spacecraft, especially one from the Soviet Union or Russia. Yuri Gagarin was the first cosmonaut to journey into outer space.
Astronaut A person who travels in space, especially one who is part of a spaceflight program. Alan Shepard was one of the first American astronauts to journey into space.
Command Module The part of a spacecraft that contains the crew’s living quarters and control systems. The crew of Apollo 13 had to shut down the Command Module and use the lunar module as a lifeboat.
Lunar Module A spacecraft designed to land on the Moon’s surface. The lunar module Aquarius served as a lifeboat for the Apollo 13 crew.
Space Station A habitable artificial satellite in orbit around the Earth. The Skylab space station was launched in 1973, marking a new era in space exploration.
Space Shuttle A reusable spacecraft system used for human spaceflight missions. The first flight of the Space Shuttle in 1981 marked a new era in space flight.
Meniere’s Disease A disorder of the inner ear that affects balance and hearing. Alan Shepard overcame Meniere’s disease through an experimental surgery and returned to space as the commander of Apollo 14.
Primordial Crust The original crust of the Moon, formed during its early history. Apollo 15 discovered a 4.5 billion-year-old piece of the Moon’s primordial crust.
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project A joint space mission between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1975. The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project marked the end of the space race and a new era of cooperation in space exploration.

Watch The Video

Apollo Program: The Brink of Disaster

Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which word means ‘a person who travels in space’?

A) Cosmonaut
B) Engineer
C) Astronaut
D) Scientist

2. What does ‘Ex Luna, Scientia’ mean in English?

A) From the Earth, knowledge
B) From the Moon, power
C) From the Sun, light
D) From the Moon, knowledge

3. What was the name of the lunar module that served as a lifeboat for the Apollo 13 crew?

A) Aquarius
B) Orion
C) Apollo
D) Gemini

4. What disease did Alan Shepard overcome through experimental surgery to return to space?

A) Meniere’s disease
B) Parkinson’s disease
C) Alzheimer’s disease
D) Cancer

5. In what year did the first flight of the Space Shuttle begin a new era in space flight?

A) 1975
B) 1980
C) 1981
D) 1985

Answer Key:

1. C
2. D
3. A
4. A
5. C

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: The Use of the Present Perfect Tense to Describe Past Actions with a Connection to the Present

The present perfect tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and has a connection to the present. It is formed using the present tense of the auxiliary verb “have” and the past participle of the main verb. For example, in the sentence “NASA has already prepared for new space ventures,” the present perfect tense is used to show that the preparation started in the past and has a connection to the present. This tense is often used with words like “already,” “just,” and “yet” to indicate the timing of the action. In the context of the Apollo program, the present perfect tense can be used to describe the achievements and legacy of the program, such as “The Apollo program has paved the way for future space exploration efforts.” The use of the present perfect tense in this way helps to emphasize the ongoing impact and relevance of the program’s achievements.

Grammar Quiz:

Choose the correct answer for each question:

  1. By the time the Apollo 13 mission ended, the crew ____________________ their lives at risk due to the oxygen tank explosion.

    A) had put

    B) have been putting

    C) had been putting

    D) were putting
  2. NASA ____________________ the Skylab space station by the time the Apollo program ended in 1972.

    A) has launched

    B) launched

    C) had launched

    D) was launching
  3. The Apollo program ____________________ a significant impact on the development of space exploration.

    A) has had

    B) had

    C) has

    D) was having
  4. By the time Gene Cernan walked on the moon, he ____________________ a professional geologist for many years.

    A) had been

    B) has been

    C) was

    D) is
  5. The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project ____________________ the end of the space race by the time it was launched in 1975.

    A) has marked

    B) marked

    C) had marked

    D) was marking

Answer Key:

  1. C) had been putting
  2. C) had launched
  3. A) has had
  4. A) had been
  5. B) marked