07 03 sports u2a

Module

2A

Outer Space

Candidates to become astronauts are eligible for
a mission after more than two years of training.
The programme does not only involve preparation
in specific fields such as Earth Science, Space
Science and Engineering. Applicants also do
plenty of physical exercises to get ready to work in
space conditions.
During the first month, candidates train in
parachute jumping and military water and
land survival. This will help them if there is
an unplanned landing back on Earth. Another
requirement is to become scuba qualified –a need
for space walk training. After all this practice,
aspirants take a swimming test. They swim
three-lengths of a 25-metre pool without stopping,
and after that, cover the same length but wearing
a flight suit and tennis shoes. Apart from this,
candidates tread water with the flight suit during
ten minutes.
While training, possible future astronauts are also
introduced to factors present in space that affect
body functions. For example, they experience
microgravity conditions in a modified aircraft
that produces periods of weightlessness through
manoeuvres. This practice is repeated forty

times in a day! And it exposes passengers to
what will happen to their bodies while in space.
Because of weak gravity, a greater amount of

body fluids flows to the upper part of the body,
affecting the cardiovascular system. Some effects
are nasal congestion, headaches and nausea.
Weightlessness also weakens bones and muscles.
For this reason, it is essential that astronauts be in
good shape.
If candidates finally get selected for a flight,
they will get prepared for the specific mission
in special simulators for at least ten months. A
Neutral Buoyancy Simulator, a huge pool that
contains replicas of space station modules in its
bottom, is used for training astronauts for space
walks and body motion in weightless conditions.
Approximately ten hours spent under water
amount to one hour walked in space. Astronaut
candidates also get familiarised with space shuttle
facilities and learn how to operate them. In this
way, astronauts learn to deal with any problems
that may arise and are ready for real space travel.

Did you know...
...that the word astronaut used in the United States means sailor among the stars?
Cosmonaut is used in Russia and it means sailor of the universe. Astronauts in the
Chinese space program are sometimes called taikonauts. Taikonaut comes from the
Chinese words tai kong (outer space).
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English Toolkit 1 - Sports

Photocopiable © Ediciones Santillana S.A. / Richmond 2011

Astronauts training


Module

2A
Activities
1Read the text and put the pictures in order. Use key words from the text to
support your answers.

a

c

b

d

a...training in land and water survival:
b...taking a swimming test:
c ...being scuba qualified:
d...reproducing microgravity conditions:
e...training deep down a huge pool:

3An astronaut explains his process of selection as an aspirant. Complete the blanks
with the Simple Past form of the verbs in brackets. All the verbs are irregular!

I
(become) a candidate astronaut after many
interviews and medical tests. I
(take) a swimming
test. I
(swim) in the pool with and without
the flight suit and then, ______________ (tread) water for ten
minutes. As an astronaut, I
(spend) more
than ten months preparing for the mission and
(get) used to the effects of microgravity.

4Discuss. What do you think of astronaut training?
Write a list of ideas to share with the class. These
questions are given as a guide.
Is it more difficult than training for any other job / activity?
Is it more dangerous? Why? Did you think training was less or more
intense than what the text informs? Can anyone apply to become an
astronaut? What are the advantages of being an astronaut?
What are the risks?
Use the ideas generated in the discussion to write a
paragraph about astronaut training.
English Toolkit 1 - Sports

Photocopiable © Ediciones Santillana S.A. / Richmond 2011

2Read the text again and find the reason for…