On June 5, American astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams launched on a test mission to the International Space Station (ISS), expecting to return home soon after. However, things didn't go as planned, and they have now been in space for almost two months. They might miss the summer and could even spend Christmas and New Year up there. They flew on a Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was its first crewed flight, meant to test how well it works before regular missions start.

Unfortunately, the Starliner had some problems while getting close to the ISS, like leaks in its propulsion system and some thrusters not working properly. Although the astronauts made it to the space station safely, it’s still unclear if the Starliner is safe for their return trip. NASA officials have said that they haven't made any final plans for when they will come back. Steve Stich, who manages NASA's Commercial Crew Program, mentioned that while they hope to use the Starliner for their return, they are looking at other options too.

One of the other options is for Wilmore and Williams to come back to Earth on a SpaceX Crew Dragon mission that is scheduled for September. If this happens, they could stay on the ISS for over eight months instead of the eight days they originally planned. If this plan goes through, the Crew Dragon would bring them back in February 2025, while the Starliner would return to Earth without a crew, controlled by a computer. NASA officials say they might take a week or more to make a final decision about their return.

Even though the astronauts are facing a longer stay in space, they are staying positive and busy with their work on the ISS. Williams, who has been in space before, said it feels familiar and comfortable to be back. While their extended mission is unusual, it’s not the first time this has happened; other astronauts have spent much longer in space. For example, Russian astronaut Valeri Polyakov holds the record for the longest single spaceflight, which lasted 437 days. Despite the challenges, both Wilmore and Williams are keeping a good attitude about their time 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 takes turns acting out key terms or phrases related to the article (e.g., "International Space Station," "SpaceX Crew Dragon," "astronaut"). The other groups must guess what is being acted out within a time limit. This helps reinforce vocabulary in a fun and active way.
– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Create a list of questions based on the article, such as "Do you think astronauts should spend more time in space?" or "Would you like to go to space?" Have students circulate to ask their classmates these questions and tally the responses. Afterward, discuss the results as a class, encouraging students to express their opinions.
– MIND MAP
Instructions: On a whiteboard or large paper, write "Space Mission" in the center. Have students brainstorm and add related concepts from the article, such as "NASA," "Starliner," "astronauts," and "ISS." This visual activity helps students connect ideas and vocabulary from the reading.
– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Ask students to create an engaging headline for the article. They should focus on capturing the main idea in a catchy way. After they have written their headlines, students can share them with the class, discussing the different approaches and language used in their titles.
– FUTURE PREDICTIONS
Instructions: Have students discuss in pairs what they think will happen next regarding the astronauts' return to Earth. They can consider factors such as the potential use of the Crew Dragon, future missions, or advancements in space travel. After a few minutes, invite pairs to share their predictions with the class, promoting discussion and critical thinking.

On June 5, American astronauts ? "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams launched on a test mission to the International Space Station (ISS), expecting to return home soon after. However, things didn't go as planned, and they have now been in space for almost two ?. They might miss the ? and could even spend Christmas and New Year up there. They flew on a Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was its first crewed flight, meant to test how well it works before regular ? start. Unfortunately, the Starliner had some problems while getting close to the ISS, like leaks in its propulsion ? and some thrusters not working properly. Although the ? made it to the space station safely, it’s still unclear if the Starliner is safe for their return trip. NASA officials have said that they haven't made any final plans for when they will come back. ? Stich, who ? NASA's Commercial Crew Program, mentioned that while they hope to use the Starliner for their return, they are looking at other options too. One of the other options is for ? and ? to come back to Earth on a ? Crew Dragon mission that is scheduled for September. If this happens, they could stay on the ISS for over eight months instead of the eight days they originally planned. If this plan goes through, the Crew Dragon would bring them back in February 2025, while the Starliner would return to Earth without a crew, controlled by a computer. NASA officials say they might take a week or more to make a final ? about their return. Even though the astronauts are facing a longer stay in space, they are staying ? and busy with their work on the ISS. Williams, who has been in space before, said it feels familiar and comfortable to be back. While their extended mission is unusual, it’s not the first time this has happened; other astronauts have spent much longer in space. For ?, ? astronaut Valeri Polyakov holds the record for the longest single spaceflight, which lasted 437 days. Despite the challenges, both Wilmore and Williams are keeping a good ? about their time in space.

1. What is your opinion on space travel? Do you think it's exciting or risky? Why?
2. How would you feel if you had to spend Christmas in space?
3. Do you think astronauts should stay in space for a long time? Why or why not?
4. What is a dream job you would like to have? Would it be working in space?
5. How do you think astronauts keep themselves busy during long missions in space?
6. Do you like watching movies or shows about space? Why or why not?
7. What do you think is the biggest challenge astronauts face while living in space?
8. How would you feel if you were one of the astronauts in this mission?
9. Do you think space exploration is important for our future? Why or why not?
10. What is a memorable experience you have had that was unexpected, like the astronauts' extended mission?
11. How do you think being in space might change a person's perspective on life on Earth?
12. Do you think it’s better to have a short trip to space or a long one? Why?
13. What would you miss the most if you were in space for a long time?
14. How do you think families of astronauts feel when their loved ones are away for so long?
15. Do you believe that space missions like this one help us learn more about our universe? Why or why not?

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