Summary Practice: The Challenger Accident

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By 1984, NASA, the United States space program, had carried out many successful flights of the space shuttle. In fact, Americans were beginning to take the whole NASA program for granted. Then, the president announced that the next space shuttle would carry a school teacher into space. Hundreds of teachers from all parts of the country applied for the job. They all wanted to be “the first teacher in space.” During the next year, these adventurous educators were tested and examined and trained. At last, the choice was announced. A teacher from New Hampshire. Christa MacAuliffe, would be the first teacher astronaut.

Summary: NASA will conduct a special flight which would carry a school teacher into the space.

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Many months of preparation and training followed the announcement. First, Christa went through intensive physical training. She had to be in top condition for the flight. Then, she learned how to operate some of the delicate instruments on the Challenger space shuttle. Christa planned special lessons, which she would teach from space. Finally, she trained with the astronauts, so they could work as a team in space.

Summary: The crews prepared everything for the flight so they could work as a team in space.

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Everyone knows what happened on that terrible day in January, 1986. Early in the morning, the Challenger crew had a good breakfast and discussed their plans. They made sure they understood all of the work they would be doing during the flight. Later, they boarded a special van, which carried them to the shuttle. The weather was rather cold, and some NASA officials wondered if they should put off the flight. After some discussion, they decided to go ahead. The Challenger took off over the Atlantic Ocean in Florida. Minutes later, it exploded in the air. All the crew members died in the crash.

Summary: The Challenger exploded minutes after taking off and all the crew members were killed by the accident.