Science & Technology
New Views from Space
21 May 2026
NEW
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a Level
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Would you like to travel in a rocket to the moon one day?
What do you think Earth looks like from far away in space?
VOCABULARY
Agency
(noun)
Flight
(noun)
Crew
(noun)
Equipment
(noun)
Orbit
(noun)
Sight
(noun)
/ey-juhn-see/
A special group or department that does a specific job for a country.
Example: NASA is the space agency of the United States.
/flahyt/
A journey through the air or through space.
Example: The rocket flight to the moon was safe and quick.
/kroo/
A group of people who work together on a ship or spacecraft.
Example: The space crew smiled and waved before they went inside.
/ih-kwip-muhnt/
The tools, cameras, or machines needed for a special activity.
Example: Astronauts need special equipment to breathe in space.
/awr-bit/
The circular path an object takes as it moves around a planet or moon.
Example: The satellite is in orbit around the Earth.
/sahyt/
Something that you see, especially something amazing or beautiful.
Example: The bright stars were a beautiful sight in the dark night.
The famous space agency NASA has shared thousands of wonderful new photos from space.
The photos were taken during a special spaceflight called Artemis II. The flight started on April 1 and ended on April 10, 2026.
Four brave astronauts traveled in a spacecraft around the moon. While they were flying, the crew used their high-tech equipment to take 12,217 amazing pictures!
These are the first pictures taken by humans traveling far beyond low Earth orbit in more than 50 years.
The photos show incredible views of the gray moon with its deep craters. They also show a bright, beautiful crescent Earth glowing against the dark sky. You can even see the planet Venus in the corner of one picture!
The commander of the mission said they saw sights that no human has ever seen before. Now, anyone can look at these beautiful pictures on a special NASA website.
Listen
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Which space agency released the new photos from space?
What was the name of the spaceflight mission?
How many photos did the astronauts take during their journey?
What objects in space can you see in the new photographs?
Why are these photos so special for history?
If you were an astronaut, what would you want to take a picture of?
FILL IN THE GAPS
Word Bank: agency, flight, crew, equipment, orbit, sights
The space (1)_______ NASA has shared thousands of wonderful new photos from space.
The photos were taken during a historic space (2)_______ called Artemis II.
The space (3)_______ used their cameras and special tools to take 12,217 pictures!
These are the first pictures taken by humans traveling far beyond low Earth (4)_______ in 50 years.
The pictures show a beautiful crescent Earth and other amazing (5)_______ in the dark sky.
The astronauts sat inside their capsule with all their technical (6)_______ to capture the view.
UNDERSTANDING
Part 1: True/False statements
The Artemis II spaceflight lasted for two full months. _____
The astronauts took more than 12,000 photos during the mission. _____
These are the first photos from beyond low Earth orbit in over 50 years. _____
The photographs only show the inside of the spacecraft. _____
You can see the planet Venus in one of the released images. _____
Part 2: Put in Order
A. NASA uploads all 12,217 images to a public website for the world to see. _____
B. The Artemis II rocket lifts off from Earth with four astronauts inside. _____
C. The crew uses their cameras to capture sights no human has ever seen before. _____
D. The spacecraft lands safely back on Earth with all the photography equipment. _____
LANGUAGE
Vocabulary Match
Agency
Flight
Crew
Equipment
Orbit
Sight
A. Something amazing or beautiful that you see
B. The path an object takes around a planet or moon
C. A government department that does a specific job
D. A group of people working together on a craft
E. A journey made through the air or outer space
F. Tools or machines needed for a specific task
USE IT
ANSWER KEY
Fill in the Gaps: 1. agency, 2. flight, 3. crew, 4. orbit, 5. sights, 6. equipment
Understanding (Part 1): 1. False, 2. True, 3. True, 4. False, 5. True
Understanding (Part 2): D, A, B, C
Language: 1-C, 2-E, 3-D, 4-F, 5-B, 6-A