On June 5, two American astronauts, Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams, embarked on a test mission to the International Space Station (ISS) with the expectation of returning home shortly after. However, their mission has taken an unexpected turn, and they have now been in space for nearly two months. As they float above the Earth, they face the possibility of missing the summer and even spending Christmas and New Year in space. The astronauts flew aboard a Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was the first crewed flight of this new vehicle, intended to assess its performance before regular missions commence.

Unfortunately, the Starliner encountered several issues during its approach to the ISS, including leaks in its propulsion system and failures in some thrusters. While the astronauts successfully arrived at the space station, the safety of the Starliner for their return journey remains uncertain. NASA officials have indicated that no definitive plans have been established regarding their return. Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, stated that while the primary option is to use the Starliner for their return, alternative plans are being considered.

One of the alternatives under consideration is to have Wilmore and Williams return to Earth via a SpaceX Crew Dragon mission scheduled for September, which would mean they could remain aboard the ISS for over eight months instead of the initially planned eight days. If this plan is executed, the Crew Dragon would bring them back in February 2025, while the Starliner would be returned to Earth uncrewed, under computer control. NASA officials have noted that a final decision regarding their return could take a week or more.

The potential use of a SpaceX craft for their return would be a setback for Boeing, which has been striving to compete with SpaceX and its more established Crew Dragon program. Recently, NASA utilized a SpaceX rocket to deliver additional supplies to the ISS, including clothing for the two astronauts. Despite the challenges, both Wilmore and Williams have expressed confidence in their situation, describing the Starliner as "truly impressive" during a recent press briefing.

Although the astronauts are facing an extended stay in space, they remain optimistic and engaged in their work aboard the ISS. Williams, who has previously spent time in space, remarked on the familiarity and comfort of being back in the environment. While their extended mission may be unusual, it is not unprecedented; other astronauts have spent significantly longer periods in space. For instance, Russian astronaut Valeri Polyakov holds the record for the longest single spaceflight, lasting 437 days. Despite the uncertainties, both astronauts have maintained a positive outlook on their extended mission in space.

Original news source: They went to space for eight days – and could be stuck until 2025 (BBC)

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out key phrases or concepts from the article without speaking, while the other groups guess what they are. Examples could include "International Space Station," "Boeing Starliner," or "SpaceX Crew Dragon."
– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to the article, such as "Space travel is safe," or "NASA should rely on SpaceX for future missions." Students will walk around the room and ask their classmates if they agree or disagree with each statement, and they will record the responses to share later.
– MIND MAP
Instructions: On a large piece of paper or a whiteboard, start a mind map centered around the theme of "Space Missions." Students will take turns adding branches with keywords or phrases related to the content of the article, such as "NASA," "astronauts," "Starliner," "SpaceX," and "ISS."
– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Students will work individually or in pairs to create a catchy headline for the article that captures its essence. After they create their headlines, they will share them with the class, and the class can vote on the most compelling one.
– FUTURE PREDICTIONS
Instructions: After discussing the article, students will write down their predictions regarding the future of space travel, specifically concerning the astronauts' return mission. They will then share their predictions in small groups, discussing the reasons behind their thoughts.

On June 5, two American astronauts, Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams, embarked on a test ? to the International Space Station (ISS) with the expectation of returning home shortly after. However, their mission has taken an unexpected turn, and they have now been in space for nearly two months. As they float above the Earth, they face the possibility of missing the summer and even spending Christmas and New Year in space. The astronauts flew aboard a Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was the first crewed ? of this new vehicle, ? to ? its performance before regular missions commence. Unfortunately, the Starliner encountered several issues during its approach to the ISS, including leaks in its propulsion system and failures in some thrusters. While the ? successfully arrived at the space station, the safety of the Starliner for their return ? remains ?. NASA officials have indicated that no definitive plans have been ? regarding their return. Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, stated that while the primary option is to use the Starliner for their return, alternative plans are being considered. One of the alternatives under consideration is to have Wilmore and Williams return to Earth via a SpaceX Crew Dragon mission scheduled for September, which would mean they could remain aboard the ISS for over eight months instead of the initially planned eight days. If this plan is executed, the Crew Dragon would bring them back in February 2025, while the Starliner would be returned to Earth uncrewed, under computer control. NASA officials have noted that a final decision regarding their return could take a week or more. The potential use of a SpaceX craft for their return would be a ? for Boeing, which has been striving to compete with SpaceX and its more established Crew Dragon program. Recently, NASA utilized a SpaceX ? to ? additional supplies to the ISS, including ? for the two astronauts. Despite the challenges, both Wilmore and Williams have expressed confidence in their situation, describing the Starliner as "truly impressive" during a recent press ?. Although the ?s are facing an extended stay in space, they remain optimistic and engaged in their work aboard the ISS. Williams, who has previously spent time in space, ? on the familiarity and comfort of being back in the environment. While their extended mission may be unusual, it is not unprecedented; other astronauts have spent significantly longer ? in space. For instance, Russian astronaut Valeri Polyakov holds the record for the longest single spaceflight, lasting 437 days. Despite the uncertainties, both astronauts have maintained a positive outlook on their extended mission in space.

1. What is your opinion on the risks astronauts face when embarking on missions to space?
2. How would you feel if you were in a situation where you had to spend an extended period in space, away from your family and friends?
3. Do you think it is worth the investment for countries to send astronauts into space, considering the risks involved? Why or why not?
4. What is a significant challenge you think astronauts face while living in the International Space Station for an extended period?
5. How do you think an extended stay in space might affect an astronaut's mental health?
6. Do you like the idea of commercial space travel becoming more common? Why or why not?
7. What is a potential benefit of astronauts spending longer periods in space, in your opinion?
8. How would you feel if you were chosen to be an astronaut and had to face unexpected challenges during your mission?
9. Do you think the collaboration between different space agencies, like NASA and SpaceX, is important for the future of space exploration? Why?
10. What is a lesson you think we can learn from the experiences of astronauts who face unexpected situations in space?
11. How would you react if you were informed that your return from space would be delayed for several months?
12. Do you think the excitement of space travel outweighs the potential dangers involved? Why or why not?
13. What is a quality you believe is essential for astronauts to possess when facing challenges in space?
14. How do you think society's perception of space travel has changed over the years?
15. Do you think future generations will have more opportunities to travel to space? Why or why not?

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