Reading - Mega goal 3 - ثالث ثانوي

3 What Will They Think of Next? 8 Reading Before Reading If you could go into space, would you? Why or why not? AN OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD VACATION رابط الدرس الر www.ien.edu.sa Things that once seemed impossible often become commonplace with the passing of time. There are people predicting that this will happen with space tourism in the next decade or two. Some are even investing in and developing space tourism technology, believing that space tourism will be the next big thing. They imagine a future in which space travel will have become a reality for millions of ordinary people. At the moment, space tourism is only a possibility for the incredibly wealthy. In 2001, American multi-millionaire Dennis Tito paid $20 million to become the first space tourist. After eight months of rigorous training, Tito traveled aboard a Russian capsule that was launched by an American company called 'Space Adventures.' He then spent seven days aboard the International Space Station. Since then, a number of other millionaire space tourists of different nationalities have gone into space. Although up to now only very wealthy people have had the opportunity to be space tourists, many see this as the beginning. of what will eventually become a lucrative new industry. There are several companies that have already invested millions of dollars in developing new, reusable launch vehicles. Their goal is to lower launch costs enough to make it possible for the average person to buy a ticket to space. The Japanese Rocket Society, for example, has set a target price of one million yen (about $10,000). Virgin Galactic, a British company owned by Richard Branson's Virgin Group, has been working on plans for sending people into space for years. The company is about to begin testing of their eight-seat spacecraft, and expects that they will have worked out any problems by 2022. When the spacecraft is shown to be safe, Virgin Galactic will begin their flights. Although tickets are a steep £100,000 ($123,000), amazingly, the first year of flights has already been booked. One of these future passengers is Lisa Ramirez, a mother of three. When asked why she was prepared to spend so much money on a Galactic flight, Ramirez explained, “I'm 58 years old, and by the time this happens, I will have been dreaming of going to space for at least 45 years!" There are even companies working on plans to build hotels for space tourists. The Shimizu Corporation, a giant Japanese construction company, has detailed plans for a space hotel concept. They plan to create a 64-room hotel which will orbit 279 miles (450 kilometers) above the surface of Earth. The hotel will slowly spin in order to produce enough force to simulate Earth's gravity. It is estimated that such a space hotel would cost 6 to 12 billion dollars, and would take about six years to build. Since water was discovered on the moon in 1998, the multi-national hotel chain, Hilton Hotels, has been working on plans for a hotel on the moon. The plans call for a 5,000-room complex with a beach, a working farm, a medical center, and even a school. Two huge solar panels will generate the power. Hilton is working on this project with experts at NASA. وزارة التعليم Ministry 4ucation 2024-1446 MG_03_COMBO_TEXT_2024.indb 40 30/4/24 3:04 AM

AN OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD VACATION

O You may wonder what space tourists will do while in space. To begin with, most will probably want to spend some time simply enjoying the incredible sight of Earth from space. After that, no doubt they will spend some time gazing at the amazingly bright stars, and will take a space walk or two. When space tourists have had their fill of observing, they are likely to spend hours amusing themselves floating and doing acrobatics in the zero gravity of space. This zero gravity could provide endless recreational opportunities, including swimming in a zero gravity swimming pool in which people move through a floating mass of water. With so much research, energy, and money being poured into space tourism, it is clear that it is a matter of when, rather than if space tourism will become a reality. After Reading Answer true or false. Rewrite the false statements to make them true. 1. 2. 3. - 2 3 4 5 6 4. 5. 6. The first tourist in space paid two million dollars. Virgin Galactic is struggling to book its first year of flights. A Japanese construction company has plans to build a hotel in space. The entire hotel will experience zero gravity. The Hilton Hotel chain plans to power a moon hotel with wind power. Hilton Hotels is working on the moon hotel with NASA. 9 Speaking 1. Work in groups/pairs. Think about space tourism in the future. Do you think it will happen? Why? Why not? 2. What do you think some of the advantages and disadvantages will be? 3. Think about transportation, accommodation, cost, and advertising. 4 Make notes in the chart and use them to help you present your opinion and discuss in class. Advantages of space tourism My opinion Disadvantages of space tourism Space tourism وزارة التعليم Ministry of Education 2024-1446 MG_03_COMBO_TEXT_2024.indb 41 will/will not happen. Reasons: 41 30/4/24 3:04 AM

what space tourists will do while in space.

Work in groups/pairs. Think about space tourism in the future. Do you think it will happen? Why? Why not?

Answer true or false Rewrite the false: statements to make them true The first lourist in space paid two million dollars.