World Space Week: Which Countries Have Sent People to Space?
Listen to the story
Every year, people around the world celebrate World Space Week. It happens in October. The week is about space and space travel. In 2026, people are asking a question. Which countries have sent people to space?
Space travel started many years ago. At first, only a few countries could send people to space. This was because rockets were very expensive. Rockets are machines that fly into space. Only rich and powerful countries could build them.
Now, things are changing. Rockets are becoming cheaper. This is sometimes called a rocket revolution. A revolution means a big change. Cheaper rockets could help more countries send people to space in the future.
World Space Week 2026 also has special events for young people. One event is called 'Katara Inspires Young Explorers.' It helps children learn about space. The event wants young people to become interested in exploration. Exploration means looking at new places and learning new things.
World Space Week helps people learn about space history. It also shows new ideas for the future. More countries may join space travel soon. Cheaper rockets could make this possible. Young people today may become the space explorers of tomorrow.
Vocabulary15 words
- World Space Week
- a yearly event in October about space
- rockets
- machines that fly into space
- rocket revolution
- a big change in how rockets are made
- exploration
- looking at new places and learning new things
- launch
- sending something into the air or space
- astronaut
- a person who travels to space
- expensive
- costing a lot of money
- cheaper
- costing less money
- powerful
- having a lot of strength or control
- future
- time that has not happened yet
- history
- things that happened in the past
- event
- something that happens, often planned
- young people
- children and teenagers
- machine
- a tool that does work
- travel
- to go from one place to another
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Quiz
Answer key
1. In October 2. Rockets were too expensive 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Every year, people around the world celebrate World _____ Week. It happens in _____.
At first, only a few countries could send people to space because _____ were very expensive.
Now, things are changing. Rockets are becoming _____.
This is sometimes called a rocket _____.
World Space Week 2026 also has special _____ for young people.
The event wants young people to become interested in _____.
More _____ may join space travel soon.
Young people today may become the space _____ of tomorrow.
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