2021-2022学年度第35期总第741期
Missions to Mars (P6) 
山东省烟台第二中学 赵娜娜

Lead-in 
What do you know about Mars?
  
    Mars is the fourth planet from the sun in the solar system. The planet is named after Mars, the Roman god of war. It is also referred to as the "red planet" because of its reddish appearance.
 
What do you know about the explorations to Mars? China's mission to Mars?
Humans have launched 46 Mars exploration missions since October 1960, but only 19 of them have been successful.
 
Tianwen 1
Tianwen 1, China's first independent Mars mission, was launched by a Long March 5 heavy-lift carrier rocket on July 23 from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, kicking off the nation's planetary exploration program.

Read for details 
Read the passage and answer the following questions.
1. What’s the latest news about Tianwen 1?
2. What’s the goal Tianwen 1 wants to achieve?
3. What are the challenges ahead?
4. What are the achievements of the explorations to Mars in February?
5. Why are other countries' Mars missions mentioned?

1. What’s the latest news about Tianwen 1?
After traveling more than seven months in space, Tianwen 1 is one step closer to Mars! Tianwen 1, China’s first Mars probe, successfully entered Mars orbit in February, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). It will stay in orbit for about three months before landing on the red planet. 
 
2. What’s the goal Tianwen 1 wants to achieve?
Tianwen 1 aims to achieve “orbiting, landing, and roving (环绕，着陆，巡视)” all in one journey, which will make the country the world’s first to accomplish all three goals with one probe, mission scientists said. 

Tianwen 1’s ultimate goal is to land a rover on Mars in May or June, and it will conduct scientific investigations on Mars’ soil, geological (地质学的) structure, environment, atmosphere and water.
 
3. What are the challenges ahead?
Among the three tasks, touchdown on the red planet is the most difficult. The result mainly depends on the “breathtaking seven minutes”, which will deploy multiple cutting-edge technologies and accurate timing of each action, including the burning of engines and opening of parachutes (降落伞) to ensure a safe landing. 
 
missions                       achievements 
NASA’s Perseverance Rover     landed on Mars on Feb 19 and landed in a deep crater near the planet’s equator called Jezero 
China’s Tianwen 1            has entered orbit above Mars
United Arab Emirates’ Hope    successfully entered the orbit of Mars on Feb 9

Discussion   
 5. Why are other countries' Mars missions mentioned?
When we step into the far planets of the solar system, the magnitude (量级) of the resources and timeline required will take a global commitment.

It takes a united effort on the part of all countries to achieve great feats.

The first high-definition pictures of Mars taken by a Chinese spacecraft were made public by the China National Space Administration on Thursday morning.

   
The pictures－two black-and-white and one color－were shot recently by China's Tianwen 1 robotic probe when the spacecraft was traveling in orbit above Mars.
Language  Study
1. 离......更近一步
2. 火星探索任务
3. 在这个红色星球着陆
4. 使用多种前沿科技
5. 精准的计时
6. 确保安全着陆
7. 积累在......上的经验
8. 增强我们的自信
9. 采集石头和土壤样本
10. 终极目标
11. 开展科学调查
12. 地质结构
Key:
one step closer to
Mars exploration missions
touchdown on the red planet 
deploy multiple cutting-edge technologies
accurate timing 
ensure a safe landing
accumulate experience in
boost our confidence
collect samples of rock and soil 
ultimate goal
conduct scientific investigations
geological structure
Exercise
 
 
Key:
1. Tianwen 1 aims to achieve “orbiting, landing, and roving (环绕，着陆，巡视)” all in one journey, which will make the country the world’s first to accomplish all three goals with one probe, mission scientists said. 
2. The result mainly depends on the “breathtaking seven minutes,” which will deploy multiple cutting-edge technologies and accurate timing of each action, including the burning of engines and opening of parachutes (降落伞) to ensure a safe landing, according to the Global Times. 
3. Tianwen 1’s ultimate goal is to land a rover on Mars in May or June, and it will conduct scientific investigations on Mars’ soil, geological (地质学的) structure, environment, atmosphere and water, according to China Daily. 
4. When we step into the far planets of the solar system, the magnitude (量级) of the resources and timeline required will take a global commitment.

Homework 
Find more information about Tianwen 1 on the internet and share with your partners.