India completed a historic lunar landing at the moon's south pole, and a few days later it launched a solar probe. The two missions came one after the other and drew wide public attention.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said the sun probe can watch the sun continuously and study solar activity and space weather in real time. Scientists praised the engineering, but some voiced concern that high-profile missions might take money away from basic research and higher education. Others argued that space projects bring practical benefits, such as better weather forecasts, more reliable communications and useful data for planning and defence.
Difficult words
- landing — the act of touching down on a surfacelunar landing
- probe — a spacecraft that studies space or planetssolar probe, sun probe
- space weather — conditions in space caused by the sun
- engineering — the design and building of machines or structures
- basic research — scientific study to find new knowledge
- higher education — education at colleges and universities after school
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think space missions help everyday life? Explain briefly.
- How would you feel if your country spent more money on space than on education?
- Which benefit from the article seems most important to you and why?
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