BACKGROUND
In 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first astronaut to walk on Earth’s
moon. The next big step in space exploration is to put a person on
another planet, such as Mars. In this article, former astronaut Mae
Jemison and NASA engineer Adam Steltzner discuss the future of space
exploration and what is needed to make it possible.
“An inclusive journey”
M ars may be one of the closest planets humans want to
colonize, but it certainly isn’t the only one. Mae Jemison
described the 100-Year Starship project to an interested audience.
Funded by NASA’s Ames Research Center and the Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the 100-Year
Starship project aims to develop the tools and technology
necessary to build and fly a spaceship to another planetary
system within the next 100 years. The program isn’t necessarily
concerned with building the ship itself as much as it seeks to
foster innovation and enthusiasm for interstellar travel.
“The reason we’re not on the moon has nothing to do
with technology and everything to do with public will and
commitment,” Jemison said.
As a result, the project, which Jemison heads, seeks to increase
public enthusiasm for space as well. The 100-Year Starship
1
Mark context clues or indicate
another strategy you used that
helped you determine meaning.
colonize (KOL uh nyz) v.
MEANING:
2
planetary (PLAN uh tehr ee)
adj.
MEANING:
interstellar (ihn tuhr STEHL
uhr) adj.
MEANING:
3
4
Nola Taylor Redd
Future of Space
Exploration Could See
Humans on Mars,
Alien Planets
NEWS ARTICLE
Future of Space Exploration Could See Humans on Mars, Alien Planets 175
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NOTESprogram not only includes engineers and astrophysicists,1 but also
artists and science fiction writers.
“It has to be an inclusive journey,” she said.
Though many people object to funding the space program
when there are humanitarian needs that have to be met on Earth,
Jemison points out that such exploration often leads to innovation
and unexpected technology that make an impact on Earth-based
programs.
“I believe that pursuing an extraordinary tomorrow will create
a better world today,” she said.
Traveling to another star takes far more time than just
developing the necessary technology. Jemison compares the
distance to Proxima Centauri, the nearest star, to that between
New York City and Los Angeles. If NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft,
which launched in 1977, was en route, it would have traveled only
1 mile in the past four decades.
At that rate, it would take 70,000 years to reach Proxima
Centauri.
Speaking to the long time frames of space travel, Steltzner said,
“I can’t really think of a country that’s been stable for 1,000 years.”
Without the development of a method to warp or shrink
space-time, or a new propulsion system2—both ideas that the
100-Year Starship program is exploring—humanity would need to
find a way to overcome some of its instability problems.
To get there, Jemison emphasized that everyone must be
involved in the process.
“The public did not leave space,” she said while discussing the
reduced enthusiasm. “The public was left out of space.” ❧
Discuss Mae Jemison’s goals. Why do you think she believes it is important to be enthusiastic about space travel?
R—Restate the question
A—Answer the question
This should be one full sentence.
Mae Jemison believes “it is important to be enthusiastic about space travel” because
C—Cite relevant evidence(A DIRECT QUOTE) that supports answer.
Possible starters:
-According to the author,
-According to the text,
-The author stated
Quotes are ALWAYS in quotation marks.
Type here
E—Explain the reason you chose the pieces of evidence and how it supports your claim (first sentence in response).
Possible starters:
-This evidence proves…
-This evidence shows…
-These facts indicate…
Should be 1-3 sentences.
Type here
S—Sum up final thoughts
Restate the claim you made in the first box.
Possible starters:
Overall, All in All
Should be AT LEAST one sentence.
Type here