World News for Students of English

22-01-2026 07:00

NASA has begun moving the Artemis II rocket from its assembly point to the launch area at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

The rocket travels only four miles; however, the trip can take up to twelve hours because it moves very slowly. Less than one mile per hour. Engineers want to keep the rocket safe as it goes over roads and small hills.

This crewed mission will be the first time since the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s that people travel toward the Moon. Four astronauts will fly inside a space capsule on top of the rocket. They will travel around the Moon and then return to Earth after about ten days. Its main goal is to check that all systems work well with people on board.

NASA plans to launch the rocket as early as 6 February if conditions allow it. While it will take astronauts around the Moon rather than touching down, the flight will help prepare future missions that aim to land people on the Moon again. Scientists also see it as an important step before future human travel to Mars.

Difficult words: assembly (putting parts together to make something), crewed (having people on board), condition (the state something is in).

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