Animal Astronauts 动物宇航员
listen and fill in the blanks.
On September 14, ________, the Soviet space program sent two tortoises -- along with some flies and worms -- into space for a trip around _____ ______. NASA calls it "the first successful circumlunar mission carried out by any nation."
After a week-long trip, the tortoises landed on Earth by parachute in the __________ Ocean. They traveled back to Moscow on October 7.
Both tortoises survived the trip but not the experiment. NASA records state that the animals were dissected on October 11, 1968, to see how their bodies were affected by the ______ _______. Dissection showed that "the main structural changes in the tortoises were caused by a ______ ____ ______and not the space travel." The tortoises had lost about __________ of their body weight. But they had stayed active and showed no loss of appetite.
When compared with a ______ group of tortoises on Earth, the space traveling creatures had a small amount of spaceflight-related atrophy. When parts of the body atrophy, they decrease in size or waste away.
The experiment demonstrated that the animals could travel around the moon and _________. But this did not mean that humans could do the same. That possibility required more _______.
Listen again and answer the following questions.
1. How long did the tortoises travel aound the moon?
2. When did they travel back to Moscow?
3. Did they stay active?
4. What does atrophy mean?
On September 14, 1968, the Soviet space program sent two tortoises -- along with some flies and worms -- into space for a trip around the moon. NASA calls it "the first successful circumlunar mission carried out by any nation."
After a week-long trip, the tortoises landed on Earth by parachute in the Indian Ocean. They traveled back to Moscow on October 7.
Both tortoises survived the trip but not the experiment. NASA records state that the animals were dissected on October 11, 1968, to see how their bodies were affected by the space travel. Dissection showed that "the main structural changes in the tortoises were caused by a lack of food and not the space travel." The tortoises had lost about 10 percent of their body weight. But they had stayed active and showed no loss of appetite.
When compared with a control group of tortoises on Earth, the space traveling creatures had a small amount of spaceflight-related atrophy. When parts of the body atrophy, they decrease in size or waste away.
The experiment demonstrated that the animals could travel around the moon and survive. But this did not mean that humans could do the same. That possibility required more testing.
listen and fill in the blanks.
While tortoises were the first to travel around the moon, other animals have helped humans _________ and __________ space. On its website, NASA explains its history with animals in space.
In 1948, the U.S. began launching rhesus m onkey s into space aboard a
__________ called the V-2 Blossom. The m onkey Albert I went up on June 11. On June 14, ______, aboard another V-2 flight, Albert II reached a height of about ____ kilometers. Albert II died on impact at re-entry.
The last V-2 flight was on December 12, 1949. It involved the m onkey Albert IV. On its website, NASA calls it "a __________ ________, with no ill effects on the m onkey until impact, when it died."
Other animal space travelers While tortoises were the first to travel around the moon, other animals have
helped humans understand and explore space. On its website, NASA explains
its history with animals in space.
In 1948, the U.S. began launching rhesus m onkey s into space aboard a
spacecraft called the V-2 Blossom. The m onkey Albert I went up on June 11.
On June 14, 1949, aboard another V-2 flight, Albert II reached a height of
about 133 kilometers. Albert II died on impact at re-entry.
The last V-2 flight was on December 12, 1949. It involved the m onkey Albert
IV. On its website, NASA calls it "a successful flight, with no ill effects on the
m onkey until impact, when it died."
listen and fill in the blanks.
While the United States was experimenting with a lot of m onkey s, the Soviet Union was experimenting with a lot of _____.
On November 3, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2 into Earth's orbit with a dog named Laika ___ _______. NASA scientists say that Laika died after a few hours. Sputnik 2 continued to orbit for five months and then ______ up in the outer atmosphere in April 1958.
Then later that year on December 13, the U.S. launched a squirrel m onkey named Gordo about 965 kilometers high in a Jupiter ______. Scientists were able to observe his body functions.
Gordo's capsule was never found in the Atlantic Ocean. He _______ on splashdown when a flotation device failed. However, scientists said readings taken of his breathing and ________ proved that humans could survive a similar trip.
These are just a few examples of how animals have helped humans _______ space. We should not forget that _______ and _______ have also been used to help scientists better understand how travel beyond Earth affects living things.
listen again and finish the sentences.
1.While the United States was experimenting with a lot of m onkey s, the Soviet Union
____________________________.
2.Then later that year on December 13, the U.S. launched a squirrel m onkey named Gordo about
965 kilometers high in a Jupiter rocket. Scientists
________________________________________.
3.However, scientists said readings taken of his breathing and heartbeat proved that
___________________________________.
4.We should not forget that mice and cats have also been used to help scientists better understand
__________________________________.
While the United States was experimenting with a lot of m onkey s, the Soviet Union was experimenting with a lot of dogs.
On November 3, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2 into Earth's orbit with a dog named Laika on board. NASA scientists say that Laika died after a few hours. Sputnik 2 continued to orbit for five months and then burned up in the outer atmosphere in April 1958.
Then later that year on December 13, the U.S. launched a squirrel m onkey named Gordo about 965 kilometers high in a Jupiter rocket. Scientists were able to observe his body functions.
Gordo's capsule was never found in the Atlantic Ocean. He died on splashdown when a flotation device failed. However, scientists said readings taken of his breathing and heartbeat proved that humans could survive a similar trip.
These are just a few examples of how animals have helped humans explore space. We should not forget that mice and cats have also been used to help scientists better understand how travel beyond Earth affects living things.