تمرین مکالمه

Mining Asteroids For Water

The Martians were giants with the strength of twenty men. When they attacked Earth, it looked like all was lost.

Were the Martians small? No, they were giants with the strength of twenty men. And when the Martians attacked Earth, what did it look like? When the Martians attacked Earth, it looked like all was lost.

The Martians were just too strong. Fortunately, their immune systems were not strong enough to fight off common earthly bacteria.

Were the Martians strong? Yes, they were too strong. And were their immune systems equally as strong? No, their immune systems were not strong enough to fight off common earthly bacteria.

Edison’s Conquest of Mars is a science fiction story written in 1898 by Garret Putman Serviss.

What was the name of Garret Putman Serviss’ science fiction story? It was called Edison’s Conquest of Mars. When did Serviss write the story? He wrote it in 1898.

The story starts as the war for Earth ends, and humans chase the aliens back to their home on Mars.

The story starts as the war for Earth begins, doesn’t it? No, the story starts when the war for Earth ends. And humans chase the aliens back to their home on Jupiter, don’t they? No, the humans chase the aliens back to their home on Mars.

At the time this story was written, the writer couldn’t imagine things that today we take for granted, like radio communication.

Was the writer able to imagine things we take for granted, like radio communication? No, the writer couldn’t imagine things that today we take for granted, like radio communication. Do you take radio communication for granted?

In his story, the alien ships communicate with one another using flags.

How do the alien ships communicate with one another? The alien ships communicate with one another using flags.

As laughable as that is, Serviss did imagine one thing that looks like it will become a reality in our lifetime. On the way to Mars, the humans stop off on an asteroid that the aliens are mining for gold.

On the way to Mars, where do the humans stop off? The humans stop off on an asteroid that the aliens are mining for gold.

Fast forward to 2015. A very real company called Planetary Resources is also planning to mine asteroids in the future. They aren’t after gold though. They’re after platinum and water.

What is the name of the company that is planning to mine asteroids in the future? Planetary Resources is the name of the company that is planning to mine asteroids in the future. Are they after gold? No, they are after platinum and water.

And they have some very serious backers. Google billionaires and Planetary Resources investors Eric Schmidt and Larry Page are betting asteroid mining will become a fruitful reality.

Are Eric Schmidt and Larry Page casual backers of Planetary Resources? No, they are Google billionaires and serious investors in Planetary Resources.

Asteroids are minor planets in our solar system and there are millions of them.

What are asteroids? They are minor planets in our solar system. Are there hundreds of them? No, there are millions of them.

The largest known asteroid is called Ceres. It circles the sun between Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered in 1801 and has a diameter of 963 kilometers, with a surface area about the size of India.

What is Ceres? Ceres is the largest known asteroid. It circles the sun between Mars and Jupiter. How big is Ceres? It has a diameter of 963 kilometers, with a surface area about the size of India.

In 2014, scientists using a telescope in space made a surprising discovery. Ceres contains water vapor.

What was the surprising discovery that scientists made using a telescope in space? The surprising discovery that scientists made using a telescope in space was that Ceres contains water vapor.

Water, of course, is essential to life as we know it.

What is water essential to? Water is essential to life as we know it.

As humanity begins the colonization of space, raw materials like water have to be sourced. Scientists are now developing technologies that will allow water from asteroids to be bottled in containers.

What kind of technologies are scientists now developing in relation to asteroids? Scientists are now developing technologies that will allow water from asteroids to be bottled in containers.

Water is needed to sustain human life, but it is also a source of energy. Scientists at Purdue University are developing a new type of rocket fuel, which is made from water and aluminum powder.

Is water a source of energy? Yes, water is a source of energy and it is needed to sustain human life. And what is the new type of rocket fuel made of that scientists at Purdue University are developing? The new type of rocket fuel is made from water and aluminum powder.

The cost of taking water and fuel from Earth into space to allow further space exploration is enormous. So finding water in space is a real game-changer.

Is it cheap to take water and fuel from Earth into space to allow further space exploration? No, the cost of taking water and fuel from Earth into space to allow further space exploration is enormous. Is finding water in space significant? Yes, finding water in space is a real game-changer.

Will astronauts drink bottled water from asteroids in our lifetime? And will they use it to power their space ships to other planets?