【明報專訊】John Young, the longest-serving astronaut who led the first space shuttle mission, passed away on 5 January. Having walked on the moon, flown in space six times and served as NASA's chief astronaut, Young left the world at the age of 87.

Young was born in San Francisco, California in 1930. Upon graduation from university with a degree in aeronautical engineering (航空工程學), he entered the United States Navy and participated in the Korean War, and was then sent to receive flight training.

After 10 years of active military services, Young was selected as an astronaut in 1962. He first went into space in Gemini 3 (雙子星3號), the first manned Gemini mission (雙子星任務) in 1965. And in May 1969, Young became the first person to orbit the moon alone.

Young was made Chief the Space Shuttle Branch of the Astronaut Office in 1973. He worked for NASA for 42 years. Robert Crippen, who flew with Young on the first space shuttle flight, called him an inspiration to the astronauts who followed him. "If they have a hero, that hero is John Young."

(Sources: Ming Pao, The New York Times, NASA, space.com)

■Photo Story

In the Gemini mission, Young smuggled a corned beef sandwich on board, hiding it in the pocket of his spacesuit. Young offered to share the sandwich with his colleague Grissom. However, bread crumbs started to float everywhere because of the lack of gravity in space.

■English highway﹕because of

While "because" is followed by a clause, a noun is used after "because of".

e.g. Ms Chow didn't talk a lot in class today because of sore throat.

■Quiz

(Answers on next text)

1. Is the following statement true or false?

John Young become an astronaut after 10 years of military service.

True/False

2. Find a word in paragraph 2 that means "took part in".

__________________________________________

3. For how many decades did Young work for NASA?

__________________________________________

4. Which of the following was not Young's achievement?

A. Taking part in the Korean War

B. Leading the Astronaut Office

C. Flying in Gemini 3

D. Being the first person to fly in space

■Glossary

space shuttle (n phr) 太空梭/穿梭機

military (adj) 軍事的

orbit (v) 繞行

inspiration (n) 靈感

[Smarties' Power English 第206期]