An American spacecraft, Peregrine One, launched last week with the goal of landing on the Moon, but unfortunately, it ended in failure. The spacecraft experienced a propulsion fault that prevented it from landing on the lunar surface. As a result, the operators decided to command the spacecraft to destroy itself by entering Earth’s atmosphere and burning up over the Pacific Ocean. The loss of signal with Peregrine was confirmed by a tracking station in Canberra, Australia. It is unlikely that any remains of the spacecraft will survive intact to reach the ocean surface.

Astrobotic, the private operator of the mission, had intended to deliver five NASA instruments to the Moon’s surface to study the local environment. If successful, this would have been the first American mission in 50 years and the first ever private venture to achieve a lunar landing. However, the mission encountered difficulties soon after launch. Despite the challenges, the engineers were able to diagnose the problem and extend the life of the lander beyond expectations. The team worked together to restore some capabilities of the spacecraft and direct it back to Earth. While the mission did not achieve its intended goal, it is still considered an impressive engineering success.

The fault in the spacecraft was traced to leaking propellant from a ruptured oxidizer tank. This caused the craft to lose stability and prevented the solar panels from maintaining a constant power supply. Despite these challenges, some of the payloads onboard were activated and able to gather data, including information on the radiation environment between Earth and the Moon. One of the NASA instruments, the Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer, developed in the UK, performed well in the check-out tests and may have the opportunity to fly again on future lunar missions.

Astrobotic is the first of three US companies participating in a new private-public partnership with NASA to send a lander to the Moon this year. The agency is purchasing transport services from these companies to support future lunar missions. Astrobotic will have another opportunity later this year to attempt a lunar landing with a NASA rover called Viper. Intuitive Machines, based in Houston, will also attempt a soft landing on the Moon next month. These missions are part of a larger effort to explore and study the Moon’s surface.

Original news source: Peregrine lander: American Moon mission destroyed over Pacific Ocean (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Give each group a copy of the article.
3. Instruct the groups to read the article and summarize the key points in their own words.
4. After a designated amount of time, have each group share their summaries with the class.
5. Facilitate a discussion to compare and contrast the different summaries and discuss any points that may have been missed or misunderstood.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Assign each group a specific topic related to the article (e.g. private space exploration, lunar missions, engineering challenges, etc.).
3. Instruct the groups to come up with a question related to their assigned topic.
4. Have each group create an opinion poll using their question and distribute it to the other groups.
5. Each group should collect responses from the other groups and tally the results.
6. Facilitate a discussion where each group presents their question, summarizes the responses, and discusses the different opinions.

– Sketch It
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Instruct each group to select a specific scene or moment from the article.
3. Provide paper and markers for each group.
4. Give the groups a designated amount of time to sketch their chosen scene or moment.
5. After the time is up, have each group present their sketches to the class and explain their interpretation.
6. Facilitate a discussion to compare the different interpretations and discuss any interesting observations or insights.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Write down a list of vocabulary words from the article on separate slips of paper.
2. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
3. Instruct each group to take turns selecting a slip of paper and silently drawing a picture to represent the word.
4. The other members of the group should try to guess the word based on the drawing.
5. After a designated amount of time, have each group rotate so that each person has a turn drawing and guessing.
6. Facilitate a discussion to review and define the vocabulary words, and provide any additional explanations or examples if necessary.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Assign each group a specific topic related to the article (e.g. private space exploration, lunar missions, engineering challenges, etc.).
3. Instruct the groups to create a list of pros and cons for their assigned topic.
4. After a designated amount of time, have each group present their lists to the class.
5. Facilitate a discussion to compare and contrast the different perspectives and discuss any additional pros and cons that may have been missed.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the goal of the American spacecraft, Peregrine One?
2. Why did the spacecraft fail to land on the Moon’s surface?
3. How did the operators of the spacecraft decide to handle the failure?
4. What was the role of Astrobotic in the mission?
5. What were some of the challenges encountered during the mission?
6. What caused the fault in the spacecraft?
7. Were any of the payloads onboard the spacecraft able to gather data?
8. What are the future plans for Astrobotic and other US companies in regards to lunar missions?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

An American (1)______, Peregrine One, launched last week with the goal of landing on the Moon, but unfortunately, it ended in failure. The spacecraft experienced a propulsion fault that prevented it from landing on the lunar surface. As a result, the operators decided to command the spacecraft to destroy itself by entering Earth’s atmosphere and burning up over the Pacific Ocean. The loss of signal with Peregrine was confirmed by a (2)______ station in Canberra, Australia. It is unlikely that any (3)______ of the spacecraft will survive intact to (4)______ the ocean surface.

Astrobotic, the private operator of the (5)______, had intended to deliver five NASA (6)______ to the Moon’s surface to study the local environment. If successful, this would have been the first American mission in 50 years and the first ever (7)______ venture to achieve a lunar landing. However, the mission encountered difficulties soon after (8)______. Despite the challenges, the engineers were able to diagnose the problem and extend the life of the lander beyond expectations. The team worked together to restore some capabilities of the spacecraft and direct it back to Earth. While the mission did not achieve its intended goal, it is still considered an impressive (9)______ success.

The fault in the spacecraft was (10)______ to leaking propellant from a ruptured oxidizer tank. This caused the craft to lose stability and prevented the solar panels from maintaining a constant power supply. Despite these challenges, some of the payloads onboard were activated and able to gather data, including information on the (11)______ environment between Earth and the Moon. One of the NASA instruments, the Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer, developed in the UK, (12)______ well in the check-out tests and may have the opportunity to fly again on future (13)______ missions.

Astrobotic is the first of three US companies participating in a new private-public partnership with NASA to send a lander to the Moon this year. The agency is purchasing transport services from these companies to support future lunar missions. Astrobotic will have another opportunity later this year to attempt a lunar landing with a NASA rover called Viper. Intuitive Machines, (14)______ in Houston, will also attempt a soft landing on the Moon next (15)______. These missions are part of a (16)______ effort to explore and study the Moon’s surface.
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💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on private companies participating in space exploration missions?
2. How would you feel if you were part of the team working on the Peregrine One mission and it ended in failure?
3. Do you think it is important for countries to continue exploring the Moon? Why or why not?
4. What do you think are the benefits of studying the local environment on the Moon?
5. How do you think the failure of the Peregrine One mission will impact future private ventures in space exploration?
6. Do you think it is worth the cost and effort to send instruments to the Moon for study? Why or why not?
7. How would you feel if you were able to witness a lunar landing in your lifetime?
8. What do you think are some of the challenges faced by engineers working on space exploration missions?
9. How do you think the public-private partnership between NASA and companies like Astrobotic will benefit future space exploration?
10. Do you think it is important for countries to collaborate on space exploration missions? Why or why not?
11. What are some potential risks or dangers associated with space exploration?
12. How do you think advancements in technology have impacted space exploration missions?
13. Do you think space exploration is a worthwhile investment for governments and private companies? Why or why not?
14. How do you think the failure of the Peregrine One mission will impact public interest in space exploration?
15. What are some potential future applications for the data gathered from lunar missions?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. spacecraft
2. propulsion
3. lunar
4. operators
5. intact
6. tracking
7. instruments
8. venture
9. diagnose
10. capabilities
11. oxidizer
12. payloads
13. spectrometer
14. partnership
15. rover

Meanings:
(A) Remaining together in one piece; undamaged
(B) A vehicle designed for traversing the surface of a planet or moon
(C) A vehicle designed for travel or operation in outer space
(D) A substance that supports the combustion of fuel, used especially in rocket engines
(E) The act of following or monitoring the path or movements of an object
(F) Individuals or groups that manage the functioning of a complex operation
(G) The equipment or material carried by a vehicle, spacecraft, or aircraft
(H) Tools or devices designed for a particular purpose, especially scientific study
(I) The mechanism or technology used to move or drive a vehicle, especially in space
(J) An instrument that measures the mass and concentration of atoms or molecules
(K) The range of things that a particular system or device can do
(L) Relating to or resembling the moon
(M) To identify the nature of a problem or illness through examination
(N) An undertaking, especially one that involves risk or is a new enterprise
(O) A cooperative relationship between parties, especially for commercial or industrial purposes
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was the goal of the American spacecraft Peregrine One?
(a) To explore Earth’s atmosphere
(b) To study the local environment on Mars
(c) To deliver instruments to the Moon’s surface
(d) To land on the Moon

2. What prevented Peregrine One from landing on the lunar surface?
(a) A propulsion fault
(b) Leaking propellant
(c) A loss of signal
(d) Ruptured solar panels

3. How did the operators of Peregrine One respond to the propulsion fault?
(a) They attempted to fix the fault remotely
(b) They commanded the spacecraft to destroy itself
(c) They redirected the spacecraft to Mars
(d) They decided to continue the mission despite the fault

4. Where was the loss of signal with Peregrine One confirmed?
(a) Houston, Texas
(b) Berlin, Germany
(c) Canberra, Australia
(d) Tokyo, Japan

5. What would have made the mission of Peregrine One a historic achievement?
(a) It would have been the first private venture to achieve a lunar landing
(b) It would have been the first mission to study the local environment on the Moon
(c) It would have been the first mission to deliver instruments to the Moon’s surface
(d) It would have been the first American mission in 50 years

6. What was the cause of the fault in the spacecraft?
(a) A loss of stability in the craft’s solar panels
(b) A malfunction in the Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer
(c) Leaking propellant from a ruptured oxidizer tank
(d) A failure in the spacecraft’s propulsion system

7. Which NASA instrument performed well in the check-out tests?
(a) The Viper rover
(b) The Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer
(c) The Astrobotic lander
(d) The Intuitive Machines spacecraft

8. What is the purpose of the private-public partnership between NASA and US companies like Astrobotic?
(a) To send a lander to the Moon this year
(b) To explore and study the Moon’s surface
(c) To purchase transport services for future lunar missions
(d) To develop new spacecraft propulsion systems

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The engineers were able to diagnose the problem and extend the life of the lander beyond expectations.
2. The loss of signal with Peregrine was confirmed by a tracking station in Canberra, Australia.
3. Astrobotic is the last of three US companies participating in a new private-public partnership with NASA to send a lander to the Moon this year.
4. Despite the challenges, some of the payloads onboard were activated and able to gather data.
5. Astrobotic, the private operator of the mission, had intended to deliver six NASA instruments to the Moon’s surface.
6. The operators decided to command the spacecraft to preserve itself by entering Earth’s atmosphere and safely landing over the Pacific Ocean.
7. An American spacecraft, Peregrine One, recently launched with the goal of orbiting around the Moon.
8. The spacecraft experienced a propulsion fault that prevented it from landing on the lunar surface.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What was the goal of the American spacecraft, Peregrine One?
2. Why did the spacecraft have to destroy itself by entering Earth’s atmosphere?
3. What were the difficulties that the mission encountered soon after launch?
4. What was the cause of the fault in the spacecraft?
5. What are the future plans for Astrobotic and other US companies in terms of lunar missions?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What was the goal of the American spacecraft, Peregrine One?
The goal of Peregrine One was to land on the Moon.

2. Why did the spacecraft fail to land on the Moon’s surface?
The spacecraft experienced a propulsion fault that prevented it from landing on the lunar surface.

3. How did the operators of the spacecraft decide to handle the failure?
The operators decided to command the spacecraft to destroy itself by entering Earth’s atmosphere and burning up over the Pacific Ocean.

4. What was the role of Astrobotic in the mission?
Astrobotic was the private operator of the mission and their role was to deliver five NASA instruments to the Moon’s surface to study the local environment.

5. What were some of the challenges encountered during the mission?
Some of the challenges encountered during the mission included a propulsion fault, loss of stability, and the solar panels being unable to maintain a constant power supply.

6. What caused the fault in the spacecraft?
The fault in the spacecraft was traced to leaking propellant from a ruptured oxidizer tank.

7. Were any of the payloads onboard the spacecraft able to gather data?
Yes, some of the payloads onboard were activated and able to gather data, including information on the radiation environment between Earth and the Moon.

8. What are the future plans for Astrobotic and other US companies in regards to lunar missions?
Astrobotic and other US companies are part of a new private-public partnership with NASA to send a lander to the Moon. Astrobotic will have another opportunity later this year to attempt a lunar landing with a NASA rover called Viper, and Intuitive Machines will also attempt a soft landing on the Moon next month.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) spacecraft
(2) tracking
(3) remains
(4) reach
(5) mission
(6) instruments
(7) private
(8) launch
(9) engineering
(10) traced
(11) radiation
(12) performed
(13) lunar
(14) based
(15) month
(16) larger
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. spacecraft
Answer: (C) A vehicle designed for travel or operation in outer space

2. propulsion
Answer: (I) The mechanism or technology used to move or drive a vehicle, especially in space

3. lunar
Answer: (L) Relating to or resembling the moon

4. operators
Answer: (F) Individuals or groups that manage the functioning of a complex operation

5. intact
Answer: (A) Remaining together in one piece; undamaged

6. tracking
Answer: (E) The act of following or monitoring the path or movements of an object

7. instruments
Answer: (H) Tools or devices designed for a particular purpose, especially scientific study

8. venture
Answer: (N) An undertaking, especially one that involves risk or is a new enterprise

9. diagnose
Answer: (M) To identify the nature of a problem or illness through examination

10. capabilities
Answer: (K) The range of things that a particular system or device can do

11. oxidizer
Answer: (D) A substance that supports the combustion of fuel, used especially in rocket engines

12. payloads
Answer: (G) The equipment or material carried by a vehicle, spacecraft, or aircraft

13. spectrometer
Answer: (J) An instrument that measures the mass and concentration of atoms or molecules

14. partnership
Answer: (O) A cooperative relationship between parties, especially for commercial or industrial purposes

15. rover
Answer: (B) A vehicle designed for traversing the surface of a planet or moon
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was the goal of the American spacecraft Peregrine One?
Answer: (d) To land on the Moon

2. What prevented Peregrine One from landing on the lunar surface?
Answer: (a) A propulsion fault

3. How did the operators of Peregrine One respond to the propulsion fault?
Answer: (b) They commanded the spacecraft to destroy itself

4. Where was the loss of signal with Peregrine One confirmed?
Answer: (c) Canberra, Australia

5. What would have made the mission of Peregrine One a historic achievement?
Answer: (d) It would have been the first American mission in 50 years

6. What was the cause of the fault in the spacecraft?
Answer: (c) Leaking propellant from a ruptured oxidizer tank

7. Which NASA instrument performed well in the check-out tests?
Answer: (b) The Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer

8. What is the purpose of the private-public partnership between NASA and US companies like Astrobotic?
Answer: (a) To send a lander to the Moon this year
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The engineers were able to diagnose the problem and extend the life of the lander beyond expectations. (Answer: True)
2. The loss of signal with Peregrine was confirmed by a tracking station in Canberra, Australia. (Answer: True)
3. Astrobotic is the last of three US companies participating in a new private-public partnership with NASA to send a lander to the Moon this year. (Answer: False)
4. Despite the challenges, some of the payloads onboard were activated and able to gather data. (Answer: True)
5. Astrobotic, the private operator of the mission, had intended to deliver six NASA instruments to the Moon’s surface. (Answer: False)
6. The operators decided to command the spacecraft to preserve itself by entering Earth’s atmosphere and safely landing over the Pacific Ocean. (Answer: False)
7. An American spacecraft, Peregrine One, recently launched with the goal of orbiting around the Moon. (Answer: False)
8. The spacecraft experienced a propulsion fault that prevented it from landing on the lunar surface. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧