Highlight the details that describe a problem.

Question

Up, up, up went the temperature in a fuel line on the descent engine. Up, up went the pressure. Rocket science rule number one? Do not allow the fuel to become unstable. Instability equals unpredictability – and unpredictability is just another word for random explosions and all sorts of unwanted chaos.

—Team Moon: How 400,000 People
Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon,
Catherine Thimmesh

Why might the author have chosen to include this problem in the text?

It shows that the spacecraft was not ready for flight.
It shows that NASA had not prepared the astronauts.
It shows how difficult the Apollo 11 mission really was.
It shows how unpredictable rocket science really is.

Answer 1

The details that describe the problem include:

• The temperature and pressure in the fuel line on the descent engine were rising.
• There is a critical rule in rocket science that states not to allow the fuel to become unstable.
• Instability leads to unpredictability, which can result in random explosions and chaos.

The author likely chose to include this problem in the text to illustrate how difficult the Apollo 11 mission really was. This highlights the challenges and potential dangers faced during the mission, emphasizing the complexities of rocket science and the high stakes involved in space exploration.