Post-2011, NASA relied on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft until geopolitical tensions complicated this arrangement. European astronauts are now barred from using Soyuz, and Russia plans to exit the ISS. To address transportation issues, NASA invested in private companies. SpaceX succeeded with cargo missions in 2012 and crewed missions in 2020. Boeing's Starliner faced delays and technical issues, with multiple cancellations due to leaks. Despite these setbacks, safety remains a priority.
Vocabulary:
• Commute (noun): The journey from home to work and back.
• To hitchhike (verb): Traveling by getting free rides from passing vehicles.
• To borrow (verb): To take something from someone for a short time and then return it.
• To launch (verb): To send a spacecraft into the sky.
• Cargo (noun): Goods carried by a vehicle.
• Disasters (noun): Sudden events causing great damage or loss.
• To break apart (verb): To split into pieces or separate into different parts.
• Suspended (past participle): Temporarily stopped.
• Sanctions (noun): Penalties or restrictions imposed on a country.
• Crew (noun): A group of people working together on a ship or spacecraft.
• Leak (noun): A hole or crack through which a liquid or gas can escape.
Source: Behind The News YouTube channel.