1.ascend-rise,move up,climb up
2.duties-responsibilities,obligations
3.launch- plunge,establish,set up,set in motions
4.schedule-agenda,docked
5.approximately-close to,just about, more or less
6.citizens-resident,passport holder ,subject
7.advance-beforehand,get along,make headway
8.dispute-quarrel,scrap,challenge
9.downturn -downswing