Space Traffic Management - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 4 · Questions 31–40
Audio
Questions
Questions 31–40 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
Space Traffic Management
A Space Traffic Management system
- is a concept similar to Air Traffic Control, but for satellites rather than planes.
- would aim to set up legal and 31 ways of improving safety.
- does not actually exist at present.
Problems in developing effective Space Traffic Management
- Satellites are now quite 32 and therefore more widespread (e.g. there are constellations made up of 33 of satellites).
- At present, satellites are not required to transmit information to help with their 34.
- There are few systems for 35 satellites.
- Small pieces of debris may be difficult to identify.
- Operators may be unwilling to share details of satellites used for 36 or commercial reasons.
- It may be hard to collect details of the object’s 37 at a given time.
- Scientists can only make a 38 about where the satellite will go.
Solutions
- Common standards should be agreed on for the presentation of information.
- The information should be combined in one 39.
- A coordinated system must be designed to create 40 in its users.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q31 | technical | In order to do this, we’d need to have a set of legal measures, and we’d also have to develop the technical systems to enable us to prevent such accidents. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript suggests that developing technical systems is necessary to prevent accidents related to space traffic. This means creating the technology needed to manage space traffic effectively. Answer Explanation: The answer 'technical' refers to the technology and systems required to address the challenges of space traffic management. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer aligns with the need for technical systems mentioned in the excerpt. By developing technical solutions, such as common standards and coordinated systems, we can improve space traffic management and prevent accidents. |
| Q32 | cheap | Well, for one thing, satellites are relatively cheap these days, compared with how they were in the past, meaning that more people can afford to put them into space. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript is saying that nowadays, satellites are not expensive, so more people can buy and launch them into space. Answer Explanation: The answer means that satellites are not costly to create or deploy. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'cheap' because it directly matches the idea in the excerpt about satellites being affordable now. 'Cheap' implies not expensive or costing little money, which aligns with the concept that satellites are more accessible due to lower costs. |
| Q33 | thousands | So there’s a lot more of them out there, and people aren’t just launching single satellites but whole constellations, consisting of thousands of them designed to work together. So space is getting more crowded every day. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about how there are many satellites in space now, not just singles but groups of satellites called constellations. These constellations can be made up of thousands of satellites working together. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the fact that these constellations can consist of thousands of satellites. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer matches the information in the excerpt that mentions constellations being made up of 'thousands of them designed to work together.' This highlights the idea of space becoming more crowded with satellites as there are now many more satellites being launched together. |
| Q34 | identification | it doesn’t have to send back any information to Earth to allow its identification. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that a satellite does not need to send information back to Earth in order for it to be recognized or identified. Answer Explanation: The answer 'identification' refers to the process of recognizing or determining what something is. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'identification' because the excerpt talks about how satellites do not need to transmit data back to Earth for them to be recognized or identified, indicating that the identification process can occur without direct communication from the satellite itself. |
| Q35 | tracking | at present we don’t have anything like enough proper ways of tracking them. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The excerpt is saying that currently, we don't have enough proper ways of following or monitoring satellites. Answer Explanation: The answer 'tracking' refers to the act of keeping track of or following something. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'tracking' because it directly relates to the need for proper ways of monitoring satellites, which is highlighted in the excerpt mentioning the lack of enough tracking methods for satellites. |
| Q36 | military | In addition, some operators may be unwilling to share information about the satellites they’ve launched. For example, a satellite may be designed for military purposes | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript is talking about some problems in creating a system to manage space traffic. One of these problems is that some people or organizations might not want to share information about their satellites. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'military'. It means something related to the army or armed forces. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'military' because the excerpt explains that some operators may be unwilling to share information about their satellites, especially if they are designed for military purposes. |
| Q37 | location | And even if the operators are willing to provide it, the information isn’t easy to collect. Details are needed about the object itself, as well as about its location at a particular time | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript discusses the difficulty of collecting information about satellites in space, specifically details about the satellite itself and its position at a certain time. Answer Explanation: The answer is referring to the position of the satellite in space, which is a piece of information needed to track and manage space traffic effectively. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'location' because the excerpt mentions the importance of knowing the object's location at a particular time, which is crucial for space traffic management. |
| Q38 | prediction | We don’t have any sensors that can constantly follow something moving so fast, so all that the scientists can do is to put forward a prediction concerning where the satellite is heading next. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript is saying that scientists can't track fast-moving satellites continuously, so they can only make an educated guess about where the satellite will go next. Answer Explanation: The answer 'prediction' is the scientists' best guess about the satellite's future location. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'prediction' because the excerpt explains that scientists can't accurately track satellites and can only make an educated guess about their future location, which is a prediction. |
| Q39 | database | Then, as all this information’s collected, it needs to be put together so it can be used, and that will involve creating a single database on which it can be entered. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about collecting information and putting it together in one place, specifically mentioning the need for a single database. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to a 'database', which is a structured collection of data stored electronically. Here, it indicates that all the gathered information should be stored in one central location. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer matches the context of the excerpt by highlighting the importance of having a central database to store all the collected information for easy access and use in Space Traffic Management. |
| Q40 | trust | but it’s also essential that this system is one that establishes trust in the people that use it, both nationally and at a global level. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript is saying that it is very important for the Space Traffic Management system to make sure that the people who use it feel confident and believe that it works well. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the Space Traffic Management system needs to make people feel confident and believe in it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer aligns with the idea that building trust is crucial for the success and effectiveness of the Space Traffic Management system as mentioned in the excerpt. Establishing trust is important for people to have faith in the system and follow its guidelines for safer space operations. |
Transcript
In today’s astronomy lecture, I’m going to talk about the need for a system to manage the movement of satellites and other objects in orbit around the Earth. In other words, a Space Traffic Management system. We already have effective Air Traffic Control systems that are used internationally to ensure that planes navigate our skies safely. Well, Space Traffic Management is a similar concept, but focusing on the control of satellites.
The aim of such a system would be to prevent the danger of collisions in space between the objects in orbit around the Earth. In order to do this, we’d need to have a set of legal measures, and we’d also have to develop the technical systems to enable us to prevent such accidents.
But unfortunately, at present we don’t actually have a Space Traffic Management system that works. So why not? What are the problems in developing such a system?
Well, for one thing, satellites are relatively cheap these days, compared with how they were in the past, meaning that more people can afford to put them into space. So there’s a lot more of them out there, and people aren’t just launching single satellites but whole constellations, consisting of thousands of them designed to work together. So space is getting more crowded every day.
But in spite of this, one thing you may be surprised to learn is that you can launch a satellite into space and, once it’s out there, it doesn’t have to send back any information to Earth to allow its identification. So while we have international systems for ensuring we know where the planes in our skies are, and to prevent them from colliding with one another, when it comes to the safety of satellites, at present we don’t have anything like enough proper ways of tracking them.
And it isn’t just entire satellites that we need to consider. A greater threat is the huge amount of space debris in orbit around the Earth – broken bits of satellite and junk from space stations and so on. And some of these are so small that they can be very hard to identify, but they can still be very dangerous.
In addition, some operators may be unwilling to share information about the satellites they’ve launched. For example, a satellite may be designed for military purposes, or it may have been launched for commercial reasons, and the operators don’t want competitors to have information about it.
And even if the operators are willing to provide it, the information isn’t easy to collect. Details are needed about the object itself, as well as about its location at a particular time – and remember that a satellite isn’t very big, and it’s likely to be moving at thousands of kilometres an hour. We don’t have any sensors that can constantly follow something moving so fast, so all that the scientists can do is to put forward a prediction concerning where the satellite is heading next.
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So those are some of the problems that we’re facing. Let’s consider now some of the solutions that have been suggested. One key issue is the way in which information is dealt with. We need more information, but it also needs to be accessible at a global level, so we need to establish shared standards that we can all agree on for the way in which this information is presented. We already do this in other areas of science, so although this is a challenge, it’s not an impossible task. Then, as all this information’s collected, it needs to be put together so it can be used, and that will involve creating a single database on which it can be entered.
As we continue to push forward new developments, congestion of the space environment is only going to increase. To cope with this, we need to develop a system like the one I’ve described to coordinate the work of the numerous spacecraft operators, but it’s also essential that this system is one that establishes trust in the people that use it, both nationally and at a global level.
One interesting development …