Space Technology and Our Nation
FoundationSatellites position us and watch the weather; space technology becomes everyday goods like air-cushion shoes; our nation's space feats run from Shenzhou to Tiangong.
- Satellites give us positioning, weather watching and communications.
- Air-cushion shoes, scratch-resistant lenses and squeeze drinks came from space technology.
- In 2003 Yang Liwei flew to space on Shenzhou-5.
文體小知識：說明文介紹航天知識：衛星怎樣幫我們、太空科技日用品、國家航天成就和太空人生活。
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1Thousands of artificial satellites fill the sky, circling the Earth like silent sentries. Satellites serve many uses: navigation satellites send signals that tell phone maps where we are; weather satellites photograph clouds from space and track typhoons; communication satellites carry TV signals and phone data across great distances.
2Much of the technology from space research now lives in daily life. Cushioning developed to protect astronauts' feet led to air-cushion trainers; scratch-resistant coatings made for space-telescope lenses now sit on our spectacles; because open cups are impossible in a weightless cabin, squeeze-drink packaging was invented. Space technology is closer than we think.
3Our nation's space journey makes us proud. In 2003 Yang Liwei rode the Shenzhou-5 spacecraft into orbit, becoming the first Chinese astronaut in space. Shenzhou missions flew again and again, and astronauts walked in space outside their craft. The Tiangong space station, built by our own country, is a laboratory in orbit; the Chang'e lunar probes landed on the Moon and even brought lunar soil back to Earth.
4Space differs greatly from Earth: it is near a vacuum, everything floats in weightlessness, and water drops and crumbs drift about. Astronauts drink slowly from special water bags; food comes bite-sized or in paste so crumbs do not fly; at night they zip into sleeping bags fixed to the wall so they do not float away; and they exercise about two hours daily to protect bones and muscles.
5Behind every astronaut stand countless scientists and engineers, with their wisdom and sweat. As we admire our nation's achievements, let us also learn the astronauts' courage, perseverance and care. Perhaps the person doing experiments in a space station one day will be today's you!
1Summary 重點摘要
Satellites position us and watch the weather; space technology becomes everyday goods like air-cushion shoes; our nation's space feats run from Shenzhou to Tiangong.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
A craft made and launched by people that orbits the Earth.
Using signals from navigation satellites to find where you are.
A satellite that photographs clouds and watches the weather from space.
Finding direction and a route; phone maps use satellites to navigate.
A vehicle that carries people or goods to space, such as the Shenzhou spacecraft.
A person trained to travel into space to carry out missions, also called a space traveller.
A lab orbiting Earth where people live and work, such as Tiangong.
The state in space of seeming to have no weight; water floats as drops.
Our nation's Moon missions; the probes landed on the Moon and brought back lunar soil.
The science and technology for exploring space, much of it now used in daily life.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Meet the artificial satellitesAn artificial satellite is a craft made by people, launched by rocket, that orbits the Earth. It looks like a metal box with wings and antennas, and different kinds do different jobs: navigation satellites give positioning, weather satellites watch the sky, communication satellites relay phone calls and television, and others study the Earth's resources and environment. They orbit from a few hundred to tens of thousands of kilometres up, working day and night to support our lives, even though we rarely see them.
- Step 2: How satellite positioning helps usPhone maps know where we are thanks to satellite positioning. Navigation satellites keep sending signals carrying time and position; after a phone picks up signals from several satellites, it compares when they arrived and works out where it stands, often to within a few metres. With positioning we do not get lost, bus arrival notices know which stop a bus has reached, hikers can check their mountain trails, and families feel easier when elders or children go out. Positioning has become a true helper in life.
- Step 3: Weather satellites watch the skyWeather satellites look down on the Earth from space, photographing wide cloud scenes and tracking how typhoons form, where they head and how strong they grow. Combining satellite images with radar and ground stations, the observatory issues accurate forecasts and warnings, so citizens prepare for wind and rain early, fishing boats return to harbour and flights are rearranged in time. Before the super typhoon Mangkhut struck, Hong Kong could suspend classes and work early — the weather satellites deserve much credit. Without them we would know almost nothing of distant storms.
- Step 4: Space tech becomes everyday goodsTechnology born for space often becomes everyday goods. The cushioning that protects astronauts' feet grew into today's popular air-cushion trainers. Scratch-resistant coatings made to guard space-telescope lenses now cover spectacle lenses, keeping them clear and durable. In a weightless cabin, liquids drift wildly, so scientists designed squeeze-drink packs with sealed straws for sipping — a design now used on sports drink pouches. These examples show how space research blesses daily life.
- Step 5: Our nation's journey in spaceOur nation's space programme advanced step by steady step. In 1970 the first satellite, Dongfanghong-1, was launched. In 2003 Yang Liwei rode Shenzhou-5 into orbit for fourteen circuits of the Earth, becoming the first Chinese astronaut in space. Later Shenzhou missions grew more complex, with astronauts spacewalking and spacecraft docking in orbit. The Tiangong space station lets astronauts live and experiment in orbit long-term, and the Chang'e probes landed on the Moon, with Chang'e-5 bringing lunar soil home. These achievements carry the efforts of generations of space workers.
- Step 6: Living in spaceInside a space station everything floats, so even living must be learned anew. For meals, food is sealed or made bite-sized so crumbs cannot drift into instruments, and water is sipped from special bags. For sleep, astronauts climb into sleeping bags fixed to the wall, with eye shades and ear plugs, so they do not float about. Exercise is a must: about two hours daily on a treadmill and resistance machines keeps bones and muscles from weakening in weightlessness. Every detail of an astronaut's life takes strict training — no simple matter!
5Worked example Example
On the way to the science museum, Dad lost the way, so he opened the phone map, which at once showed the car's position and planned the fastest route. Explain: how did the phone map know where the car was? How else can this technology help us? And share how you feel about our nation's space development.
- The phone receives signals from navigation satellites overhead and compares when signals from several satellites arrive.
- From these times the phone works out the car's exact position — this is satellite positioning.
- The same technology powers bus arrival notices, hiking navigation, finding lost items and parcel tracking.
- From Shenzhou crewed flights to the Tiangong space station, our nation's space progress is great — something to admire and be proud of.
- Answer: The phone map uses navigation satellites: it compares the arrival times of signals from several satellites to fix the car's position. This technology also guides buses, hikers, deliveries and searches for lost things. From Shenzhou flights to the Tiangong station, our nation's space achievements are brilliant — let us learn the astronauts' perseverance and care.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What technology locates us on a phone map?
Q2Which satellites help track typhoons?
Q3Who was the first Chinese astronaut in space?
Q4What happens to water drops and crumbs in a space station?
Q5Name one everyday item that came from space technology.
8Recap Recap
- Satellites give us positioning, weather watching and communications.
- Air-cushion shoes, scratch-resistant lenses and squeeze drinks came from space technology.
- In 2003 Yang Liwei flew to space on Shenzhou-5.
- The Tiangong station and Chang'e Moon missions show our nation's space achievements.
- Life in space is weightless; astronauts need special training and gear.