19)Space exploration

There are a lot of explorations which are connected with space.

If we want to explore planets, we need to invent reliable and strong equipment. For example, springy rovers. Rockets, parachutes and airbags have helped land several rovers on Mars, but the next generation of robotic planetary explorers may use a totally new technology. Explorers at NASA are looking to send a robot to Saturn’s moon Titan that will be constructed entirely of a set of rods held in place by cables under tension. This “tensegrity structure” would be equipped with scientific instruments and wouldn’t need a parachute or airbag. The structure itself is compliant and can absorb strong impact shocks, so it can land safely while protecting a payload. Not only that but it will be mobile too. Once landed, it can shorten and lengthen its cables to induce rolling and explore the planet.

Another example is flat lander. The tense landing of NASA’s Mars science laboratory, Curiosity, back in 2012 took years of planning and advanced engineering, and it all rested on the perfect performance of the mission’s landing systems. Today, Curiosity is giving us a unique view of one of the most scientifically interesting places on the Red Planet. But there may be a much simpler way to explore many more of these tantalizing environments throughout the Solar System.

The Two-Dimensional Planetary Surface Landers project is looking into the technology needed to build numerous wafer-thin “landers” that could be scattered onto a planet, moon or asteroid. Each lander would be only a few millimetres deep and would cover about one square metre; on- board would be solar panels and communications electronics as well as radiation, wind and temperature scientific.

They may even carry thin scientific instruments for studying their surroundings. Tens of landers would be sent to the target in one go, with the possibility of sending up to 50. When a number of 2D landers are deployed, some may make it and others may not. It is still acceptable. It also enables landing at highly risky, but geologically much more interesting locations.

20)Science and international cooperation

One of the most striking features of modern science is the in­creasing tendency towards closer cooperation between scientists and scientific organizations (institutions) all over the world. In fact, it is becoming more and more evident that many of the prob­lems that affect the world today cannot be solved without joining scientific efforts and material resources on a world-wide scale. The exploration of space, world finance, global environment protection problems and the development of new sources of power are the ex­amples of areas of scientific research which are so costly and com­plicated that it is difficult for a single country to solve them efficiently and in a short period of time. The renewal of interna­tional scientific cooperation was demonstrated in the sharing of data which were obtained by Russian, Japanese and European space probes in 1986 on Halley's comet.

Many countries were successfully cooperating on a programme called Intercosmos in launching a large number of vertical geo­physical rockets and satellites. Space exploration programmes were being conducted between Russia and Austria, India, France, Swe­den and other countries. Joint manned flights by Russian and for­eign cosmonauts included citizens from numerous countries. Many international crews have worked on orbit and carried out a lot of scientific experiments

Russian and the U.S. engineers are now working side by side on the International Space Station, the largest peacetime engineering project in history.

Launched from opposite sides of the world, the first Interna­tional Space Station components Zarya and Unity have begun a new era of exploration as 16 nations joined their scientific and technological resources in the first truly international space pro­gram to improve life on Earth. Even before its launch, the Interna­tional Space Station has opened new spheres of research on Earth by overcoming barriers of language, culture and technological dif­ferences worldwide.

Indeed, it represents unprecedented global cooperation and trust. There is no doubt that it is the first step towards a unified «planetary civilization» that will explore space as citizens of Earth, not of individual nations.

1 No preposition.

2 a public school is a private school that provides secondary education which parents have to pay for. The pupils often live at the school during the school term.

3 A level (in full Advanced level) – a school leaving examination in a particular subject, normally taken in two parts at the age of 17 or 18. Students usually take three or four subjects at the second level. This exam is needed for entrance to university.