America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have just inflated a new, experimental capsule for astronauts to use in space. The inflatable room is now an extension to the International Space Station (ISS). It is more or less four meters long and 3 meters wide. It took three days to fully inflate.
Now ISS members have to wait a week before entering it NASA engineers must first make sure of something particular because even its extremely small split could be a matter of life or death for the astronauts. The blow-up ball is part of a test on the practicality of inflatable accommodation on the moon and Mars, and of orbiting space hotels. NASA paid $ 17.8 million dollars for the test. It hopes this' initial test will lead to bigger and better inflatable rooms at the ISS.
The inflatable is the world's first blow up capsule for astronauts, and other space travelers. It is called the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or “BEAM" for short. It is named after Bigelow Aerospace (BA), the company that worked it out and built it. The company is already planning its next step, aiming for the moon station. Together with United Launch Alliance (ULA), it plans to send a B330 inflatable capsule to the moon in 2022 after completing independent space station tests.
Company's founder Robert Bigelow is now working on a project to build two private space stations that could serve as hotels in space. He said, “I regard inflatable capsules as a big part of space travel, and sooner or later, space tourism too. Until now, the strong capsules is small enough (about the size of a small bedroom, inflated) to transport as airless units, but big enough lo live in, once filled with air, which, I hope, most ordinary people are able to afford in the future."
12. Before the astronauts enter the blow-up room, engineers must first check whether it is_______
A.flexible properly | B.wide enough | C.inflated fully | D.sealed totally |
13. Who designed the inflatable capsule?
14. What should the future inflatable capsule be like according to Bigelow?
A.Safe. | B.Big. | C.Cheap. | D.Lasting. |
15. What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.A Blow-up Capsule on the Moon Station | B.ISS’ Air-filled Extension Being Tested |
C.Future Space Travel and Tourism | D.World's First Space Hotel by Bigelow |