VII. Match the questions with the answers

1. Has space been the new frontier of the 20^th century?	а) Yes, they are.
2. Are satellite data contributing, in parallel, to unraveling the complex systems that govern the Earth’s own climate?	b) Yes, it has.
3. Do the advances hold out the prospect of achieving a fuller understanding of how our planet functions in its total environment?	c) Yes, they have.
4. Are mobile telephone and satellite broadcasting now being supplemented by systems providing low-speed, small-scale data links?	d) Yes, they do.
5. Have space-based observations moved beyond their established use in meteorology?	e) No, they aren’t.

VIII. Answer the questions

1. What has been the new frontier of the 20^th century?

2. What has satellite exploration resolved?

3. What has the opening up of space created?

4. How has satellite navigation developed?

5. How important is the space sector now?

Unit II

Render the text

The basic directions of development domestic rocket means of injection

Russia by the right can be proud of many samples of space-rocket techniques, first of all launch rockets, which on many parameters surpass the foreign analogues.

Greatly it was promoted by well thought over system approach to formation of park of national means of injection and the choice of directions of their development. Certainly, under the influence of some various factors, first of all political, it did not exclude duplication and sometimes large failures. But the history of all branches of science and techniques contains a lot of dramatic and even tragical events, and astronautics with its complexity is not exception. One is indisputable - today to create, to make and to maintain the LV of any classes and types are able only two countries of the world – Russia and the USA.

Let's notice, that the list of possible means of injection of space vehicles is not limited by aerospace planes rockets. In our country there are works on reusable space systems, aerospace planes and other nonconventional means. However they are far from reality now. Today only LV is a unique real way of space vehicle launch rockets.

The major factors defining the basic directions of development of domestic LV were the needs for defense, a national economy and a science. Long time they were complicated by political opposition of two world systems imposed the most rigid time restrictions on all kinds of work. And though today the acuteness of this opposition is appreciably removed, and space activity has got features of mutually advantageous international cooperation, the factor of competitiveness has remained. Today it has moved in economic region demanding from Russia not easing, and, on the contrary, activation of efforts on improvement of the LV. It is necessary for giving them greater competitive ability in the world market of commercial launchings of space vehicle which by present time has been already generated.

Historical development of LV in our country, as well as in the majority of the countries of the world, went in two basic ways.

The first way is the way of the reasonable adaptation of strategic ballistic missiles to space needs has allowed quickly and at the limited expenses to create the basis of today's park of national means of injection. This way has good prospects of commercial development of LV in future.

The second way is the way of creation cleanly «space» of LV is more expensive, long and complex. It has predetermined the limited number of similar LV and was, in particular, one of the reasons of some large failures.

On each way of development LV had several directions having the beginning (year of launchings of the first LV), a material embodiment (created or reached up to a stage of full-scale breadboard models variants of LV) and prospects of development.

Topical vocabulary

space-rocket techniques – ракетно-космическая техника	reusable space system – космическая система многократного использования
launch rocket – ракетоноситель	aerospace plane – аэрокосмической самолет
surpass – превосходить	to impose – устанавливать
to promote – способствовать	rigid – суровый
to think over – обдумывать	acuteness – острота
approach – подход	appreciably – значительно
injection – вывод	to generate – вырабатывать
failure – отказ, ошибка	ballistic missile – баллистическая ракета
astronautics – астронавтика	expense – затрата
indisputable – неоспоримый	embodiment – воплощение
	breadboard – макет