News by Levels · Level 2 · Student worksheet

Dragonfly Tests an Automatic Landing

Name: __________________________ Date: __________________

Read the story

NASA reported a real-time simulation of Dragonfly's first flight on October 23. Flight-like computers guided it towards a safe landing site.

This was an Earth-based test, not a flight on Titan. Launch is planned no earlier than 2028, with arrival expected in 2034.

Source: NASA, 2026-10-23. https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/dragonfly/2026/10/23/nasas-dragonfly-completes-first-simulated-flight/

Read and practise

1. Which description of the test is accurate?

   1. A completed flight on Titan
   2. A live landing controlled from Earth
   3. An Earth-based simulation

2. What does “no earlier than 2028” tell us?

   1. 2028 is the earliest planned year
   2. Launch must happen before 2028
   3. The craft has already launched

Your turn

Why is a simulation different from a completed mission?

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Read online: https://newsbylevels.com/news/dragonfly-first-flight-simulation-october-2026/level-2/