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If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page, after the Vocabulary. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.

If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.

1. Listening for main ideas

First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?

2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:

1. What are the two main aims of the new space unit?





2. When was the formal ceremony?





3. What is the government committed to protecting?





4. What do we use space-based infrastructure for? List two services which are mentioned.





5. Where could threats come from?





6. What was the role of No 62 Squadron in World War 2?





7. What has been lost in space?





8. What were New Zealand scientists hoping to use it for?





9. What happened on 20 June?

Text

New Zealand now has a space unit as part of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), to monitor what happens in space and to protect New Zealand.

There was a formal ceremony on Friday 4 July at the RNZAF Base Auckland, Whenuapai, to establish the unit. The Minister of Defence and for Space, Judith Collins, said the government is committed to protecting the country’s interests and security in the “rapidly evolving space domain”. She said that space is very important for modern life, as we rely on space-based infrastructure, such as satellites, for a range of services, including weather observation, banking, and air traffic control. Consequently, space security is essential. According to the Air Force, threats could come not only from other countries but also from space itself, such as solar flares that could impact the electricity grid.

The unit’s name is No 62 Squadron, which was the name of a unit in World War 2 which operated radars in the South Pacific, to warn allies and partners of incoming attacks. Currently the unit has only 12 members, but this could increase in the future. The members are working with other countries as well as industry and academics in New Zealand.

In other space news, a satellite which the New Zealand government invested in has been lost in space. The government put $29 million of taxpayers’ money towards MethaneSAT, which is owned by the Environmental Defense Fund in the United States. The satellite was supposed to detect and measure methane leaks from oil and gas production worldwide, and New Zealand scientists were hoping to use it to track methane emissions from agriculture. However, the owners of the satellite lost contact with it on 20 June and have not been able to re-establish communication. This was just before New Zealand scientists were about to take control of the satellite. So far, the New Zealand government has not commented on this news.

Vocabulary

satellite – a machine that has been sent into space and goes around the Earth, used for radio, television, and other electronic communication  

air traffic control – the activity of giving instructions by radio to pilots in airplanes

solar flare – an event in which high-energy gas is released from the sun’s surface

electricity grid – the network of electricity supply wires

squadron – a military force consisting of a group of aircraft

radar – a piece of equipment that uses radio waves to find the position of things and watch their movement

ally (plural, allies) – a country that helps or supports another country during a war

methane – a gas which occurs in nature and as a product of some human activities. It contributes to global warming

leak – a small hole that lets water, or in this context, gas, flow out of something

emissions – gases that are sent into the air

be about to do something – if someone is about to do something or something is about to happen, they will do it soon or it will happen very soon

Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer

a. What are the two main aims of the new space unit?

To monitor what happens in space and to protect New Zealand

b. When was the formal ceremony?

Friday 4 July

c. What is the government committed to protecting?

The country’s interests and security

d. What do we use space-based infrastructure for? List two services which are mentioned.

Weather observation, banking, air traffic control

e. Where could threats come from?

From other countries and from space

f. What was the role of No 62 Squadron in World War 2?

They operated radars in the South Pacific, to warn allies and partners of incoming attacks

g. What has been lost in space?

A satellite which the New Zealand government invested in

h. What were New Zealand scientists hoping to use it for?

To track methane emissions from agriculture

i. What happened on 20 June?

The owners of the satellite lost contact with it.