What’s up and what’s down for astronauts who are floating in zero gravity? In space is there a true north, like here on Earth? And how is everything complicated by the fact that all the stars and planets are moving? Sam and Rob talk about it and teach you related vocabulary along the way.
This week’s question
Who was the first person in space?
a) Neil Armstrong
b) Yuri Gagarin
c) Valentina Tereshkova
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.
Vocabulary
navigate
use directions to go where you want to, often by using a map
compass
instrument for finding directions that works using a magnetic needle that moves and always points north
magnetic pole
point near the North Pole or South Pole where the Earth’s magnetic field is concentrated
arbitrary
decided randomly, not according to any particular reason or principle
light year
unit measuring the distance that light travels in one year (around 6 trillion miles)
flip
turn over or move into a different position
You can download audio and text here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2022/ep-220519