Finding your way in space - 6 Minute English

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

[Cover: Getty Images]
You can download audio and text here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish...

More 6 Minute English episodes:
Remembering Desmond Tutu

Are you afraid of numbers?
https://youtu.be/DvBWBSl2DKA

Britain's love affair with coffee
https://youtu.be/fJoCs5Z_QvE

Intimacy on screen
https://youtu.be/4pDImFxHNuY

Personalised diets
https://youtu.be/dJZ9CSbGueU

How green is nuclear energy?
https://youtu.be/naB_3XYRtew

Why we forget the things we learn
https://youtu.be/1iHeeMlOsyc

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