NASA Artemis II: The First Crewed Moon Mission in 53 Years
NASA successfully launched its Artemis II mission on April 1, 2026 local time, marking the United States' first crewed mission toward the Moon in 53 years. The massive Space Launch System rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft. The launch proceeded smoothly without major technical issues, a landmark moment for global space exploration.The four-member crew consists of three American astronauts and one Canadian astronaut, forming the first international team ever to travel to lunar orbit.Led by Commander Reid Wiseman, the crew includes Victor Glover, the first Black astronaut to join a lunar mission, Christina Koch, a veteran astronaut with extensive space experience, and Jeremy Hansen, the first Canadian astronaut to fly close to the Moon. Unlike the Apollo landing missions, this flight will not touch down on the lunar surface.During the ten-day space journey, the Orion spacecraft will reach the Moon and conduct a flyby at an altitude of roughly 7,600 kilometers. The four astronauts will venture farther from Earth than any human has done before. The mission’s primary goal is to test the safety and performance of the Orion capsule and the SLS rocket in deep space. Data collected from the flight will lay a solid foundation for NASA’s future lunar landing plans.Through the Artemis program, NASA aims to return astronauts to the Moon by 2028, build a permanent lunar base, and eventually send humans to Mars. As the first crewed lunar flight since the Apollo program, Artemis II represents a critical step in sustainable deep space exploration.1.What is the primary purpose of the Artemis II mission?A. To set a new record of spacewalking durationB. To test the equipment’s safety and performance in deep spaceC. To do scientific research on the lunar surfaceD. To build a permanent base on the Moon immediately2.Which of the following is TRUE about the Artemis II crew?A. It is the first all-American team to reach lunar orbit.B. They will carry out a landing on the lunar surface.C. Victor Glover is the only experienced astronaut in the crew.D. Jeremy Hansen is the first Canadian to fly close to the Moon.3.What does the underlined phrase “touch down” most probably mean?A. Take ofB. LanC. Fly b D. Circle4.What can we infer from the text about the Artemis program?A. It was started 53 years agoB. Artemis II is the last task of the programC. It includes lunar and Martian exploration plansD. It is completely different from the Apollo program5.What is the best title for the text?A. Artemis II: A Milestone in Crewed Lunar ExplorationB. NASA’s Apollo Moon Landing MissionsC. Ways to Become an AstronautD. International Cooperation in Space Research
二、完形填空
阅读下面短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。NASA’s Artemis II mission, launched on April 1, 2026, marks the first crewed trip to the 1. ______ of the Moon in over 50 years since the Apollo program. Unlike former lunar landing tasks, this 93-day flight will only fly around the Moon without 2. ______ on its surface.Four astronauts are on this historic journey. Among them is a Canadian astronaut, making him the first Canadian ever to travel 3. ______ low Earth orbit. The team consists of a commander, a pilot, and two mission specialists, all of whom are 4. ______ trained and strictly selected.Right after the 5. ______, the powerful SLS rocket sent the Orion spacecraft into Earth’s orbit. The crew first checked every key system, including navigation, communication and life support, to 6. ______ everything worked safely and smoothly.In the following days, the spacecraft left Earth’s orbit and 7. ______ toward the Moon. It will fly about 4,100 miles above the lunar surface, 8. ______ the farthest distance for human spaceflight in recent decades.The spacecraft follows a special free-return path. It can return to Earth 9. ______ extra engine burns, with the help of lunar gravity. This kind of orbit is both 10. ______ and practical for deep space exploration tests.As the craft re-enters Earth’s atmosphere, it travels at a very high 11. ______, creating temperatures near 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat shield is specially 12. ______ to protect the crew and the capsule from the extreme heat.After successful re-entry, the spacecraft will 13. ______ its parachutes and splash down in the Pacific Ocean. A U.S. Navy team will be on site to 14. ______ the crew and the craft safely.Artemis II is far more than a simple space flight. It is a critical test that will 15. ______ the way for NASA’s future manned moon landings and even long-term Mars exploration.1.A. back B. surface C. orbit D. center2.A. landing B. flying C. stepping D. moving3.A. into B. beyond C. through D. within4.A. easily B. nearly C. simply D. highly5.A. check B. lift-off C. test D. training6.A. make sure B. look out C. run out D. set up7.A. ran B. headed C. looked D. searched8.A. reaching B. keeping C. taking D. marking9.A. without B. used C. from D. for10.A. funny B. cheap C. safe D. quiet11.A. height B. speed C. level D. cost12.A. advised B. used C. designed D. planned13.A. put up B. give up C. set up D. open14.A. collect B. invite C. refuse D. force15.A. hold B. push C. pave D. give
三、语篇填空
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first crewed mission 1. ______ (go) to the moon in more than 50 years, 2. ______ (launch) successfully on April 1, 2026. Four astronauts will make a 10-day trip around the moon 3. ______ landing on its surface.The crew consists of four members, among 4. ______ sits a Canadian astronaut, the first Canadian ever to reach deep space. All are 5. ______ (extreme) well-trained and experienced. The Orion spacecraft will follow a free-return orbit, 6. ______ (enable) it to return to Earth using lunar gravity.Flying about 4,100 miles above the moon, the craft 7. ______ (expect) to set a new distance record for human spaceflight. Its heat shield is designed to resist high temperatures when 8. ______ (reenter) the atmosphere. After the splashdown in the Pacific, the capsule will 9. ______ (safe) be recovered by the U.S. Navy.This mission is of great significance, 10. ______ lays the foundation for future moon landings and deep space exploration.
四、新增短文还原（个别省份中考题会出）
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给的选项中选出能填入短文空白处的最佳选项使短文通顺连贯，其中有两项是多余选项。NASA’s Artemis II mission will send four astronauts around the moon in a 10-day journey without landing on the lunar surface. 1. ______ It will also test the spacecraft’s life support and communication systems in deep space.On Day 1, the SLS rocket will lift off from Florida. 2. ______ The team will check basic systems and prepare for the trip toward the moon. During the next three days, the spacecraft will move away from Earth and head for lunar orbit. 3. ______Around Day 6, the spacecraft will fly close to the moon. 4. ______ This will be the farthest point from Earth during the whole mission. After flying past the moon, the spacecraft will begin its journey back home.The return trip focuses on safe re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. 5. ______ In the end, the capsule will splash down in the Pacific Ocean and be collected by the U.S. Navy.Artemis II is a key step for NASA’s future moon landing and long-term deep space exploration.A. It will reach about 4,100 miles from the moon’s surface.B. The main goal is to test the Orion spacecraft in deep space.C. Many students are interested in space and star-watching.D. The spacecraft will enter Earth orbit and perform system checks.E. The high-speed return creates extremely high temperatures.F. The mission will take much longer than future lunar landings.G. They will stay in space and will not land on the moon.
中考英语必背短语清单（Artemis II 载人探月）
一、核心任务与事件
crewed moon mission 载人探月任务
launch successfully 成功发射
lift off 升空；起飞
fly around the Moon 绕月飞行
fly by the Moon 月球飞越
touch down 着陆
splash down （航天器）溅落
re-enter the atmosphere 重返大气层
二、航天设备
Space Launch System (SLS) 太空发射系统火箭
Orion spacecraft 猎户座飞船
space capsule 太空舱
heat shield 隔热罩
parachute 降落伞
service module 服务模块
free-return orbit 自由返回轨道
三、空间与位置
lunar orbit 月球轨道
lunar surface 月球表面
deep space 深空
low Earth orbit 近地轨道
at an altitude of… 在…… 高度
四、目标与意义
test safety and performance 测试安全性与性能
lay a solid foundation for… 为…… 奠定坚实基础
sustainable deep space exploration 可持续深空探索
a landmark moment 里程碑时刻
be of great significance 意义重大
五、人员与合作
astronaut 宇航员
crew 乘组；全体人员
international team 国际团队
international cooperation 国际合作
be well-trained 训练有素的
六、计划与探索
lunar base 月球基地
Mars exploration 火星探索
future lunar landing plans 未来登月计划
permanent lunar base 永久月球基地
答案+详细解析
一、阅读理解答案
1.B 2. D 3. B 4. C 5. A
详细解析
1.答案：B解析：原文明确提到The mission’s primary goal is to test the safety and performance of the Orion capsule and the SLS rocket in deep space.（任务核心目标是测试“猎户座”飞船和SLS火箭在深空的安全性与性能），对应选项B。2.答案：D解析：A错误：机组包含3名美国宇航员+1名加拿大宇航员，并非全美国团队；B错误：原文this flight will not touch down on the lunar surface（不会登陆月球表面）；C错误：Christina Koch也是资深宇航员，并非只有Victor Glover有经验；D正确：原文Jeremy Hansen, the first Canadian astronaut to fly close to the Moon（杰里米·汉森是首位飞近月球的加拿大宇航员）。3.答案：B解析：touch down为固定短语，意为着陆、降落；take off（起飞）、fly by（飞越）、circle（环绕）均不符合语境。4.答案：C解析：原文NASA aims to return astronauts to the Moon by 2028... eventually send humans to Mars（阿尔忒弥斯计划包含2028年重返月球、最终登陆火星的目标），对应选项C。5.答案：A解析：文章核心围绕阿尔忒弥斯2号展开，强调其是载人探月的重要里程碑；B（阿波罗登月）、C（成为宇航员的方法）、D（太空国际合作）均非文章主旨。
二、完形填空答案
1.C 2. A 3. B 4. D 5. B 6.A 7. B 8. D 9. A 10. C 11.B 12. C 13. D 14. A 15. C
详细解析
1.C. orbit：原文lunar orbit（月球轨道），为固定搭配。2.A. landing：without landing（不登陆），呼应原文“无登月计划”。3.B. beyond：beyond low Earth orbit（超越近地轨道），符合加拿大宇航员首次进入深空的语境。4.D. highly：highly trained（受过高度训练），修饰宇航员的专业素养。5.B. lift-off：after the lift-off（发射后），对应火箭升空的环节。6.A. make sure：make sure everything worked（确保一切正常运行），符合系统检查的目的。7.B. headed：head toward（飞向），固定搭配，描述飞船驶向月球。8.D. marking：marking the farthest distance（标志着最远飞行距离），现在分词作结果状语。9.A. without：without extra engine burns（无需额外引擎点火），体现自由返回轨道的优势。10.C. safe：safe and practical（安全且实用），评价轨道的特性。11.B. speed：at a very high speed（以极高速度），描述重返大气层的状态。12.C. designed：specially designed（专门设计），说明隔热罩的研发属性。13.D. open：open its parachutes（打开降落伞），为返回地球的标准操作。14.A. collect：collect the crew and the craft（回收宇航员与飞船），对应美国海军的任务。15.C. pave：pave the way（铺平道路），固定短语，指为未来探月、探火奠定基础。
三、语篇填空答案
1.to go 2. was launched 3. without 4. whom 5.extremely 6. enabling 7. is expected 8. reentering 9.safely 10. which
详细解析
1.to go：the first to do sth.（第一个做某事的），不定式作后置定语。2.was launched：主语mission与launch为被动关系，2026年为过去时间，用一般过去时被动语态。3.without：介词，后接动名词，表不登陆月球表面。4.whom：非限制性定语从句，先行词为four members，指人，且前有介词among，用whom。5.extremely：副词，修饰形容词well-trained，表极其训练有素。6.enabling：现在分词作结果状语，表自然而然的结果。7.is expected：be expected to do（被期望/预计做某事），被动语态。8.reentering：when引导的时间状语从句省略句，完整为when it is reentering。9.safely：副词，修饰动词recovered，表安全回收。10.which：非限制性定语从句，指代前文整句话内容，在从句中作主语。
四、七选五答案
1.B 2. D 3. G 4. A 5. E
详细解析
1.答案：B解析：后句It will also test...（还将测试……），说明前句应介绍任务核心目标，B项主要目标是在深空测试猎户座飞船符合逻辑。2.答案：D解析：前句SLS rocket will lift off（火箭发射），后句check basic systems（检查基础系统），D项飞船进入地球轨道并进行系统检查衔接发射与系统检查环节。3.答案：G解析：前文讲飞船飞向月球轨道，G项他们将停留在太空，不会登陆月球呼应原文“无登月计划”的核心信息。4.答案：A解析：前句fly close to the moon（飞近月球），A项距离月球表面约4100英里具体说明飞近的高度，衔接紧密。5.答案：E解析：前句safe re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere（安全重返地球大气层），E项高速返回产生极高温度解释重返大气层的关键难点，符合语境。
