SÉQUENCE 2 : SCIENCES ET TECHNIQUES,

PROMESSES ET DÉFIS
THÈME 2 – SPACE

SÉANCE 2 – THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

1. Discover the ISS

– A forward view of the International Space Station backdropped by the horizon of the Earth.

To learn about the International Space Station, read the article and then check your
understanding.

The International Space Station (ISS) is a modular space station (habitable artificial satellite)
in low Earth orbit. It is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space
agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and
CSA (Canada). The ownership and use of the space station is established by
intergovernmental treaties and agreements. The station serves as a microgravity and space
environment research laboratory in which scientific research is conducted in astrobiology,
astronomy, meteorology, physics, and other fields. The ISS is suited for testing the spacecraft
systems and equipment required for possible future long-duration missions to the Moon and
Mars.
The ISS programme evolved from the Space Station Freedom, an American proposal which
was conceived in 1984 to construct a permanently manned Earth-orbiting station, and the
contemporaneous Soviet/Russian Mir-2 proposal with similar aims. The ISS is the ninth space
station to be inhabited by crews, following the Soviet and later Russian Salyut, Almaz, and Mir
stations and the U.S. Skylab. It is the largest artificial object in space and the largest satellite
in low Earth orbit, regularly visible to the naked eye from Earth's surface. It maintains an orbit
with an average altitude of 400 kilometres (250 mi) by means of reboost manoeuvres using
the engines of the Zvezda Service Module or visiting spacecraft. The ISS circles the Earth in
roughly 93 minutes, completing 15.5 orbits per day.

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The station is divided into two sections: the Russian Orbital Segment (ROS), operated by
Russia; and the United States Orbital Segment (USOS), which is shared by many nations.
Roscosmos has endorsed the continued operation of ROS through 2024, having previously
proposed using elements of the segment to construct a new Russian space station called
OPSEK. The first ISS component was launched in 1998, and the first long-term residents
arrived on 2 November 2000. The station has since been continuously occupied for 20 years
and 50 days, the longest continuous human presence in low Earth orbit, having surpassed the
previous record of 9 years and 357 days held by the Mir space station. The latest major
pressurised module, Leonardo, was fitted in 2011 and an experimental inflatable space habitat
was added in 2016. Development and assembly of the station continues, with several major
new Russian elements scheduled for launch starting in 2020. As of December 2018, the station
is expected to operate until 2030.
The ISS consists of pressurised habitation modules, structural trusses, photovoltaic solar
arrays, thermal radiators, docking ports, experiment bays and robotic arms. Major ISS modules
have been launched by Russian Proton and Soyuz rockets and US Space Shuttles. The station
is serviced by a variety of visiting spacecraft: the Russian Soyuz and Progress, the SpaceX
Dragon 2 and Cygnus, the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle, and, formerly, the European
Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV). The Dragon spacecraft allows the return of pressurised
cargo to Earth, which is used, for example, to repatriate scientific experiments for further
analysis. As of September 2019, 239 astronauts, cosmonauts, and space tourists from 19
different nations have visited the space station, many of them multiple times; this includes 151
Americans, 47 Russians, nine Japanese, eight Canadians, and five Italians.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

Activities
1. To check your understanding of the text, select if these statements are true or
false. Quote from the text to justify your answer.

1. The ISS is a joint project between five space agencies. □ True □ False
.....................................................................................
2. China is part of the International Space Station project. □ True □ False
.....................................................................................
3. Intergovernmental treaties and agreements establish the
ownership and use of the ISS. □ True □ False
.....................................................................................
4. The ISS is a space environment research laboratory in
which scientific research is conducted in multiple fields. □ True □ False
.....................................................................................
5. The ISS is the largest artificial object in space. □ True □ False
.....................................................................................

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6. You can’t see the ISS from the Earth’s surface without
a telescope. □ True □ False
.....................................................................................
7. The United States Orbital Segment of the ISS is only
operated by the US. □ True □ False
.....................................................................................
8. The ISS has the longest continuous human presence
in low Earth orbit. □ True □ False
.....................................................................................
9. The ISS is expected to operate until 2030. □ True □ False
.....................................................................................
10. Astronauts, cosmonauts, and space tourists from 24
different nations have visited the ISS. □ True □ False
.....................................................................................

2. To learn more about the ISS, watch this video: “A Bridge Above: 20 Years of the
International Space Station” from NASA then answer the question.

How was the International Space Station envisioned as a way to “build a bridge between and
above nations?” (150 words)

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 2. Understand the difference between politics and
diplomacy
To understand the difference between politics and diplomacy, read the two definitions
then select the right category for the different descriptors.

Politics is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or
other forms of power relations between individuals, such as the distribution of resources
or status.

Diplomacy is the practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of states

or groups, so as to influence the decisions and conduct of foreign governments through
dialogue, negotiation, and other nonviolent means.

Descriptors Politics Diplomacy

deals with international relationships; making friendship with
the neighboring and the other countries or states.
is related to affairs connected with political parties.

can be both constructive and detrimental to the growth of the

state.
refers to the activities of the state with the foreign counterparts
or foreign entities on behalf of the state.
not only exists between political parties, but it is seen in other
fields too such as music, sports, administration, work place,
etc.
is the practice of conducting negotiations between
representatives of various states to try to strengthen the
political and cultural relationships between the states or the
countries.
aims at strengthening the relationship between two states or
two countries.
deals with the study of political science.

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 3. Study a viable solution for space exploration

The Case for Managed International Cooperation in Space Exploration

By D. A. Broniatowski, G. Ryan Faith, and Vincent G. Sabathier

Introduction
International cooperation in space exploration has the potential to provide significant benefits
to all participants, particularly if managed well. Benefits in the form of monetary efficiency,
programmatic and political sustainability, and workforce stability will accrue to those partners
who choose to approach space exploration as a mutually beneficial endeavor. Furthermore,
international cooperation must be explicitly incorporated as an aspect, and goal, of a modern
space exploration program to enable coordination prior to the construction of new hardware.
Such coordination can happen on both the government and industry levels and allows for
advance planning and standardization that can enhance the strategic use of redundancy
through interoperability. Finally, the promotion of a set of industrial standards for cooperation
in space exploration will enable the exercise of leadership in future stages of the Vision for
Space Exploration (VSE). If the vision is to succeed, the United States, in particular, must
engage its partners by reaffirming and strengthening its commitment to the International Space
Station (ISS) to maintain its diplomatic credibility for future exploration endeavors. International
cooperation must be an integral part of the way in which the United States, and all space-faring
powers, approach space exploration. Management of this cooperation up-front can have high
payoffs in terms of both political and programmatic sustainability, diplomatic benefits, and
ultimately, the development of free-market forces in space. The first step toward making the
most of international cooperation in space exploration is the completion and utilization of the
ISS. The ISS program is not complete. Therefore, the program’s utility has not yet been fully
realized. To the extent that a completed ISS is beneficial, the program will deliver positive
utility. Nevertheless, for each passing year that these benefits are delayed, their perceived
probability of delivering value is decreased, concomitantly decreasing their expected utility.
Given that the ISS program is significantly over budget, 10 years behind schedule, and far from
complete, we may expect that the practical benefits of ISS utilization may not be a major factor
in current utility calculations. Similarly, many space exploration endeavors promise practical
benefits that can only be delivered on time scales that are significantly longer than what is
required to make an adequate business case. As such, we may assume that the purely
economic benefits of space exploration are not the primary driver for exploration in the short
term. Rather, space exploration is an activity that delivers immediate value in noneconomic
areas, while allowing for longer-term practical and economic benefits. As will be demonstrated
below, each of these benefits can be strengthened through correctly managed international
cooperation.

Why Do Nations Choose to Cooperate in Space Exploration?

The case for international cooperation varies between nations, depending on their needs. For
example, most nations lack the budgetary resources to carry out their space exploration goals
alone. As such, international cooperation is a must for these nations. The United States, on
the other hand, nominally possesses the budgetary resources to carry out the VSE but is under

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a presidential directive to engage in international cooperation for diplomatic reasons. If
cooperation between nations is to be successful, each nation must have an incentive to
cooperate (i.e., each nation must derive positive utility from the partnership). The remainder of
this section presents four reasons why nations might choose to cooperate in space exploration.
As such, international cooperation can occur where these nations possess complementary
needs.

Reason #1: International Cooperation Saves Money

It is common knowledge that international cooperation in space exploration has the potential
to reduce a partner’s costs by spreading the burden to other nations. Although additional
overhead costs increase the overall cost of any international cooperative endeavor, these
costs are spread among partners. As per-partner cost decreases, per-partner utility increases.
Space exploration has proven to be an expensive activity. Indeed, the more that any given
administration and Congress must spend to maintain and/or expand the functionality of a
program like the ISS, the less utility will be derived. Therefore, a nation will have an incentive
to engage in international cooperation when doing so can reduce that nation’s costs. This is
particularly true for nations whose space exploration budget is insufficient to execute their
space exploration goals. Aside from the United States, and possibly China, international
cooperation is necessary for all other space-faring nations simply due to the large costs
involved.

Reason #2: International Cooperation Generates Diplomatic Prestige

The ISS program, along with most international civil space endeavors, carries with it an
element of diplomatic cachet and control. The participation of other nations in the program
increases the diplomatic influence of participating nations and, therefore, the diplomatic utility
derived from cooperation. In general, the more countries participate, the higher will be the
utility. Nevertheless, not all countries are equal, and their individual utility value depends on
world politics. For example, the utility of having Russia join the ISS program increased
significantly after the breakup of the Soviet Union, when relations with a new Russia were at
the forefront of United States foreign policy. To the extent that a symbol of cooperation with a
given nation is valuable, utility will be delivered. As such, Indian participation in joint space
exploration would send a strong signal to the world of good U.S.-Indian relations. This would
simultaneously increase Indian prestige by demonstrating their technological prowess.
Similarly, Chinese participation in joint space exploration would signal growing cooperation
between the two nations. The use of the ISS for a partnership between either of these nations
would drastically increase its utility to those who support friendly relations. On the other hand,
those who oppose closer U.S. relations with India or China are likely to oppose their entrance
into the ISS program or into any other joint space exploration program. These diplomatic
incentives may come at a cost for the cooperating nations; for example, China would likely
have to make concessions in the form of more stringent technology export controls and/or
better observance of human rights standards. If space exploration is successfully used as a
diplomatic tool to exert such “soft power,” its utility increases in proportion to the degree that it
is successful in implementing a policymaker’s agenda. Similarly, the departure of a particular
nation (or, if the United States chooses to cease participating, of all nations) will reduce U.S.
utility to the extent that the aggregate symbol of cooperation is valued.

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Reason #3: International Cooperation Increases Political Sustainability
International cooperation is valuable to a given nation in that it tends to increase political
sustainability. Within the United States, a program is made safer from cancellation to the extent
that Congress and the administration are not willing to break international agreements. Indeed,
the integration of Russia into the ISS program may well have saved the program from
cancellation (consider that the year before Russia was introduced as a partner, the ISS was
saved by one vote in Congress). Once cooperation has commenced, canceling a program
becomes inconsistent with political sustainability as long as the utility cost associated with the
loss of diplomatic benefits and the negative effects on reputation of terminating an international
agreement is larger in magnitude than the utility cost that must be paid to maintain the system.
In the case of the ISS, international cooperation does provide a rationale for sustaining the
program, because canceling the program would result in a net loss in utility. The corollary to
this is that there is a high cost to be paid by any nation that chooses to unilaterally withdraw
from an existing cooperative endeavor. This cost comes in the form of damage to the departing
nation’s reputation or credibility. In general, any unilateral action sends a signal that the actor
is an unpredictable and therefore an unreliable and possibly disrespectful partner. This tends
to sabotage the possibility of future cooperation. As such, there is a long-term benefit to
maintaining cooperation, even when the immediate cost may seem to call for terminating it. If
cooperation has never occurred (as is the case between China and the United States), the
advent of cooperation is a significant event, likely delivering a lot of diplomatic utility. On the
other hand, if cooperation is the norm (as is the case between Canada and the United States),
it is to be expected. The diplomatic utility of maintaining this cooperation is often not
recognized. Nevertheless, the diplomatic utility cost of terminating this cooperation is large,
because it would alienate a key ally. If it were necessary to cease cooperation, a mutual choice
to do so would likely mitigate many of the negative reputation effects, because there would be
no unilateral actor to whom one could assign blame. Indeed, if both parties choose to cease
cooperating simultaneously, this would mitigate the negative-reputation effect—rather, there
would be a “mutual divorce.” Such a mutual decision would be significantly more tenable, in a
diplomatic sense, because each party might outline a set of grievances and conditions for the
termination of cooperation. Furthermore, since the agreement would be terminated in a spirit
of mutual understanding, the possibility of future beneficial cooperation would be more likely.
If the ISS were unilaterally terminated, the result would be a blow to the credibility of the United
States, concomitant with the loss of trust of the foreign partners. A U.S. withdrawal could send
the message that the purpose of the program is simply to divert resources from other nations’
space goals in order to prevent competition. This, in turn, would have a profoundly negative
effect on any future U.S. leadership in space exploration. If possible, international cooperation
must be terminated in such a way as to avoid portraying the terminating nation’s actions as
unreliable, disrespectful, or malicious. As such, if the ISS is to be terminated, such a
termination should be phrased as a joint decision made among all partners, in such a way as
to leave open the possibility of future cooperation.

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Reason #4: International Cooperation Enables Workforce Stability
One way politicians measure the benefit of a large program is in terms of the number of jobs
and amount of revenue brought to their constituency. As such, the politician’s perception of
change in these sorts of benefits is of the utmost importance. For example, both the Space
Shuttle and ISS programs employ workers across the country and serve as a source of
revenue to the districts of many members of Congress. The program also employs enough
people to attract the attention of the president. The loss of these jobs and revenue streams
would constitute a large loss in utility for both the administration and Congress; nevertheless,
the aerospace industry must continually engage in advocacy activities to ensure that politicians
are made aware of this fact. Similarly, simply continuing a program is unlikely to increase its
utility for any of the stakeholders, because the jobs and revenue streams already exist. It is
only when these benefits are put under threat that political salience is achieved. As such, if
either the Space Shuttle or ISS programs were to grow to employ more people, an increase in
the perceived utility lost in the event of a cancellation of the program would only result if the
growth were significant enough to attract political attention. This is different from an expected
utility gain; a proposal to grow the program prior to its execution is unlikely to increase utility
as much, because future employees will not engage in advocacy to keep jobs that do not
currently exist. This means that established programs are more sustainable than are programs
that have not yet begun. In addition, the incumbent advantage means that members of
Congress are generally satisfied with the status quo. If it should happen that a program is
approved and seems likely to be implemented in a particular district, individual members of
Congress may lend their support in the expectation that they will gain utility. Thus, positive
utility for programmatic expansion only exists when a supporting coalition may be identified.
As such, additional employment does not strictly deliver positive utility; rather it can increase
the perception of utility loss in the event of program cancellation. Similarly, once jobs are lost
and utility is decreased, there is no additional positive utility to be gained from reinstating those
jobs. Rather, the threat of the loss of utility inherent in the loss of employment can only serve
as a deterrent. Such employment programs therefore act in a manner similar to an addiction,
wherein the removal of employees causes “withdrawal symptoms” manifested as a loss of
utility. Nevertheless, when the metaphoric addict becomes accustomed to the additional
employment, the prospect of a marginal increase does not increase utility. On first analysis,
international cooperation might seem to decrease employment in the United States, because
foreign nations are building components that might otherwise be constructed in the United
States. In practice, those who are employed may see more stability in their jobs due to the twin
utility losses associated with employment termination and diplomatic prestige loss. In effect,
employment has no impact on utility unless it changes. The stability provided by international
cooperation will ensure that the associated utility is at least less likely to decrease.

Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C.

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Activities
1. To improve your geopolitical vocabulary, match the words below with their
definitions.

Utility / Leadership / Status quo / Vision for Space Exploration / Unilateral / Soft power /
Advocacy / Mutually beneficial / Political sustainability / International cooperation / Budgetary
resources / Stakeholder /

Word Definition
a plan for space exploration to develop the innovative technologies,
knowledge, and infrastructures needed and to promote international and
commercial participation in exploration to further U.S. scientific, security,
and economic interests.
both sides are getting something positive from it.
the interaction of persons or groups of persons representing various
nations in the pursuit of a common goal or interest.
the state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial.
the fulfillment of current political goals and resource needs without
compromising future goals and needs.
all sources of authority provided to federal agencies permitting them to
incur financial obligations, including new budget authority, unobligated
balances, direct spending authority, and obligation limitations.
a persuasive approach to international relations, typically involving the
use of economic or cultural influence.
(of an action or decision) performed by or affecting only one person,
group, or country involved in a situation, without the agreement of
another or the others.
the leaders of an organization, country, etc.
an activity by an individual or group that aims to influence decisions
within political, economic, and social institutions.
the existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political
issues.
an individual, group or organization who is impacted by the outcome of
a project. They have an interest in the success of the project, and can
be within or outside the organization that is sponsoring the project.

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 2. To check your understanding of the article, match the sentences.

1. Countries cooperate in space exploration a) diplomatic tool to exert soft power on

because… other nations.
2. Countries must have… b) even if the short-term costs are high.

3. Cooperating with other countries for c) an existing cooperative agreement as it

space explorations…
4. Committing to international agreements
increases political stability…
5. The United States, and possibly China,
are the only countries…
6. If the ISS program is terminated, it
should be…
7. Cooperating in space exploration can be
used as a…
8. There is a long-term benefit to sustaining
international cooperation…
9. There is a high cost to be paid by any
nation that chooses to unilaterally withdraw
from…
makes the nation look unreliable.
d) that can afford space exploration without
sharing the costs with other countries.
e) a joint decision between all of the
countries involved.
f) an incentive to cooperate with other
nations.
g) they either lack the money to do it alone
or for diplomatic reasons.
h) allows countries to share the costs.
i) as countries don’t want to break these
agreements and damage their international
standing.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

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 4. A quote from Mark Kelly
Read the quote from astronaut Mark Kelly below then write an essay responding to
these questions: (300 words or more).
− What is the benefit of the International Space Station to humanity and our future?
− Should the United States government continue to fund the International Space
Station? Or is it better to have private companies build and maintain this and
new ones?

In a 2018 Opinion essay, “Don’t Give Up on the International Space Station,” Mark Kelly, a
former astronaut who has lived on the space station and the twin brother of Scott Kelly, writes:

It was the United States that led the international coalition of 16 nations to build the space
station. Constructing this outpost in outer space took dozens of missions spanning well over a
decade to complete, and considerable money. It is clearly one of the more complicated
engineering projects humans have undertaken.

It’s not perfect and it’s not designed to last forever, but what the International Space Station
offers humans and nations is remarkable: an important opportunity to collaborate on shared
scientific goals, mostly free from politics and almost entirely free from the influences of our
planet …

But all of this will come to a screeching halt (though you won’t hear the “screech” in the vacuum
of space) if the Trump administration ends funding for the International Space Station program
beyond 2024, a step it is considering. The reasons are unclear, though President Trump has
said that he wants to prioritize human travel to the moon.

Whatever the priorities, this sort of trade-off is shortsighted. Cutting funding for the station, now
between $3 billion and $4 billion a year, would be a step backward for the space agency and
certainly not in the best interest of the country.

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Answers

1. Discover the ISS

Activities
1. To check your understanding of the text, select if these statements are true or
false. Quote from the text to justify your answer.

1. The ISS is a joint project between five space agencies.  True □ False
“It is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space agencies: NASA
(United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).”

2. China is part of the International Space Station project. □ True  False

“It is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space agencies: NASA
(United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).”

3. Intergovernmental treaties and agreements establish the

ownership and use of the ISS.  True □ False
“The ownership and use of the space station is established by intergovernmental treaties and
agreements”

4. The ISS is a space environment research laboratory in

which scientific research is conducted in multiple fields.  True □ False
“The station serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory in which
scientific research is conducted in astrobiology, astronomy, meteorology, physics, and other
fields.”

5. The ISS is the largest artificial object in space.  True □ False

“It is the largest artificial object in space and the largest satellite in low Earth orbit, regularly
visible to the naked eye from Earth's surface.”

6. You can’t see the ISS from the Earth’s surface without
a telescope. □ True  False
“It is the largest artificial object in space and the largest satellite in low Earth orbit, regularly
visible to the naked eye from Earth's surface.”

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7. The United States Orbital Segment of the ISS is only
operated by the US. □ True  False
“The station is divided into two sections: the Russian Orbital Segment (ROS), operated by
Russia; and the United States Orbital Segment (USOS), which is shared by many nations.”

8. The ISS has the longest continuous human presence

in low Earth orbit.  True □ False
“The station has since been continuously occupied for 20 years and 50 days, the longest
continuous human presence in low Earth orbit, having surpassed the previous record of 9
years and 357 days held by the Mir space station.”

9. The ISS is expected to operate until 2030.  True □ False

“As of December 2018, the station is expected to operate until 2030.”

10. Astronauts, cosmonauts, and space tourists from 24

different nations have visited the ISS. □ True  False
“As of September 2019, 239 astronauts, cosmonauts, and space tourists from 19 different
nations have visited the space station, many of them multiple times; this includes 151
Americans, 47 Russians, nine Japanese, eight Canadians, and five Italians.”

2. To learn more about the ISS, watch this video: “A Bridge Above: 20 Years of the
International Space Station” from NASA then answer the question.

How was the International Space Station envisioned as a way to “build a bridge between and
above nations?” (150 words)

The International Space Station has demonstrated humankind’s ability to not only live and
work in space but cooperate with one another. The ISS was a joint project between several
countries. It is especially notable because Russia was invited to join the project. This marked
a new chapter in US-Russia relations. The two countries were once bitter rivals during the
Cold War and they collaborated on an ambitious project. Even as relations between Russia
and the U.S. have deteriorated over the past several years, the partnership on the ISS has
continued. While scientific and space cooperation does not solve all terrestrial issues, it can
strengthen other diplomatic relationships. While the U.S. and Russia are the countries most
closely identified with the program, Canada, Japan and the European Space Agency also take
part. While not always easy, sustained cooperation in a place where operations are difficult
and costly is impressive.
(148 words)

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 2. Understand the Difference Between Politics and
Diplomacy
To understand the difference between politics and diplomacy, read the two definitions
then select the right category for the descriptors.

Descriptors Politics Diplomacy

deals with international relationships; making friendship with 
the neighboring and the other countries or states.
is related to affairs connected with political parties. 

can be both constructive and detrimental to the growth of the 

state.
refers to the activities of the state with the foreign counterparts 
or foreign entities on behalf of the state.
not only exists between political parties, but it is seen in other 
fields too such as music, sports, administration, work place,
etc.
is the practice of conducting negotiations between 
representatives of various states to try to strengthen the
political and cultural relationships between the states or the
countries.
aims at strengthening the relationship between two states or 
two countries.
deals with the study of political science. 

3. Study a viable solution for space exploration

Activities
1. To improve your geopolitical vocabulary, match the words below with their
definitions.

Word Definition
Vision for Space a plan for space exploration to develop the innovative
Exploration technologies, knowledge, and infrastructures needed and to
promote international and commercial participation in exploration
to further U.S. scientific, security, and economic interests.
Mutually Beneficial both sides are getting something positive from it.
International the interaction of persons or groups of persons representing
Cooperation various nations in the pursuit of a common goal or interest.
the state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial.
Political Sustainability the fulfillment of current political goals and resource needs without
compromising future goals and needs.
Budgetary Resources all sources of authority provided to federal agencies permitting
them to incur financial obligations, including new budget authority,
unobligated balances, direct spending authority, and obligation
limitations.

CNED - PREMIERE – LLCE ANGLAIS Monde Contemporain

 Soft power a persuasive approach to international relations, typically involving
the use of economic or cultural influence.
Unilateral (of an action or decision) performed by or affecting only one
person, group, or country involved in a situation, without the
agreement of another or the others.
Leadership the leaders of an organization, country, etc.
Advocacy an activity by an individual or group that aims to influence
decisions within political, economic, and social institutions.
Status Quo the existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political
issues.
Stakeholder an individual, group or organization who is impacted by the
outcome of a project. They have an interest in the success of the
project, and can be within or outside the organization that is
sponsoring the project.

2. To check your understanding of the article, match the sentences.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
g f h i d e a b c

4. A quote from Mark Kelly

The International Space Station has many benefits to humanity and our future. Through
addressing the challenges related to human space exploration we expand technology, create
new industries, and help to foster a peaceful connection with other nations.
During the past two decades, the space station has supported numerous discoveries, scientific
publications, unique opportunities, and historic breakthroughs. This research not only helps us
explore farther into space, it also benefits us back on Earth.
Science experiments can be done on the ISS in a way that cannot be done anywhere else.
Orbiting about 250 miles above our planet, the space station is the only laboratory available
for long-duration microgravity research.
The role of government in space exploration is to do the things that the market can’t support,
but the people agree are beneficial. When NASA sends a spacecraft like New Horizons to take
close up pictures of Pluto, it does so because, as a people, we understand that science is
important. We understand that learning about the universe is good for our society. We
understand that knowledge has value for its own sake and that we often cannot predict how
that knowledge may have additional practical value at some later time. This kind of exploration
simply isn’t practical for the private sector because there isn’t a way to, in the near term, make
a return on the investment.
But the government has needs the private sector can fulfill and through those needs is
subsidizing the research and development those private entities need to do to develop their
technologies to the point where they can affordably meet the appetites of a market.
At each step along the way, as the government funds the risky and expensive learning process,
lessons are learned so that private entities can afford to do similar things. The world’s space
agencies have funded the research, development, construction and operation of the
International Space Station so that important research that will benefit society can be done.
Along the way a lot has been learned about building and operating space stations and private
companies have been able to benefit from the government’s investment by using that
knowledge to make the first steps into private space stations.

CNED - PREMIERE – LLCE ANGLAIS Monde Contemporain

There are areas of space utilization that will be best fulfilled by the private sector and there are
areas that are and will continue to be best fulfilled by the public sector.
(398 words)

CNED - PREMIERE – LLCE ANGLAIS Monde Contemporain

Video transcript
“A Bridge Above: 20 Years of the International Space Station”
[Music]
This was once just a dream. TTC is good for launch. Three, two… And liftoff of Discovery and
a team of explorers shaping their destiny! An answer built by those who dared to ask. What if
we were to channel humanity's knowledge and creatively into something truly revolutionary?
What if we built a bridge between and above all nations -- to jointly discover the galaxy's great
unknowns? To endeavor to live and to work outside our planet for the benefit of all within. What
started as an accord between two former rivals became a beacon of opportunity for the rest of
the world. We have ignition and liftoff of the Soyuz rocket beginning the first expedition to the
International Space Station and setting the stage for permanent human presence in space.
Are you ready for visitors? We live this dream aboard the International Space Station. It's good
to have you there and adjusting to your new home. Adapting to life in space has been a
process. For the past 20 years, over 230 astronauts from all over the world have worked
tirelessly together, boldly performing pioneering research and high-stakes space walks in the
unforgiving environment of space. In this unparalleled orbital laboratory, circling the planet at
17,500 miles an hour, thousands of groundbreaking scientific experiments from over 100
countries have led to discoveries unachievable in the confines of Earth. From 250 miles up,
an unbroken chain of residents have shared their view and their research with a generation
eager to understand this higher plan. The space station is a symbol of humanity at its best, a
shining example of international peace and collaboration in action. Three, two, one. Endeavor,
this is Houston. You've completed a historic ride to the ISS and have opened up a new chapter
in human space exploration. And as we turn our gaze outward still, this International Space
Station is a living testament of our collective strength and perseverance, where our human
curiosity prepares for the audacious efforts ahead. We continue to bridge the distances
between us and prove just how much more is possible when we dream together.
[Music]

CNED - PREMIERE – LLCE ANGLAIS Monde Contemporain