NASA’s ‘Flying Saucer’ Was Really a Sun-Sample Capsule begins with a clear news idea: Our third story begins with something that looked a little like a flying saucer in the Utah desert. But this was not an alien spaceship. It was a NASA spacecraft capsule called Genesis. NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day featured the saucer-shaped object, which landed years ago. Genesis was designed to collect tiny particles from the Sun, called solar wind particles, and bring them back to Earth for scientists to study. Wait—how can you collect something from the Sun without flying into it?
Important details from the episode include: Our third story begins with something that looked a little like a flying saucer in the Utah desert. But this was not an alien spaceship. It was a NASA spacecraft capsule called Genesis.
Strong readers can compare the story with other sources, look for the main claim, and talk about what details made the story trustworthy or surprising.
Important details from the episode include: Our third story begins with something that looked a little like a flying saucer in the Utah desert. But this was not an alien spaceship. It was a NASA spacecraft capsule called Genesis.
Strong readers can compare the story with other sources, look for the main claim, and talk about what details made the story trustworthy or surprising.