SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2010
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from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick Dangerous Missions
Brave explorers Going into space can be dangerous.
There have been two tragic accidents in the shuttle program. In 1986, the Challenger broke
apart right after launch. It killed all seven people onboard, including the Teacher in Space, Sharon Christa McAuliffe. In 2003, the Columbia was destroyed
after re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, just minutes from landing on Earth. All seven crew members were killed. Astronauts know they could be in danger. But like other explorers, they think the gains are worth the risk.
The last Challenger crew: Back row (left to right): Ellison Onizuka, Sharon Christa McAuliffe,
Greg Jarvis, Judy Resnik; front row: Mike Smith, Dick Scobee and Ron McNair.
from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick
Ready Resources The Mini Page provides ideas for websites,
books or other resources that will help you learn more about this week’s topics.
On the Web: •
www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/ •
www.nasa.gov/shuttle •
www.nasa.gov/station •
www.youtube.com/user/ReelNASA
At the library: • “Onboard the Space Shuttle” by Ray Spangenburg, Kit
Moser and Diane Moser • “Shuttle to Space Station” by Brian Knapp
TM
The last Columbia crew (left to right): David Brown, Rick Husband, Laurel Clark, Kalpana Chawla, Michael Anderson, William McCool and Ilan Ramon.
Changing the mission One of the first jobs of the shuttle
was to carry satellites into space. After the Challenger accident, NASA decided not to use the shuttle to launch satellites. Private companies now launch satellites. Except for special satellites, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, that were designed to be launched by the shuttle, the shuttle was then used only for trips to the Russian Mir space station and the ISS.
The Hubble and the shuttle
One of the most important shuttle missions was to launch the Hubble Space Telescope. Shuttle crews also returned five times to service the Hubble and add new instruments. Although the Hubble was scheduled for launch in 1986, all shuttle missions were delayed after the Challenger accident. The space shuttle finally carried the Hubble into space in 1990.
© 2010 Universal Uclick Approaching the End of an Era NASA’s space shuttle program is
coming to an end. At this time, only two more missions are scheduled, in November and February. The Mini Page talked with an
expert from NASA to learn more about this important space program.
The shuttle and the space station Even as men were flying to the
The Hubble clears the cargo bay of the shuttle Discovery in 1990.
from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick Shuttle ProgramTRY ’N FIND
Words that remind us of the space shuttle are hidden in the block below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you can find: ATLANTIS, BAY, CARGO, DISCOVERY, EARTH, END, ENDEAVOUR, ERA, EXPLORATION, FLY, HUBBLE, JOB, LAND, LAUNCH, LOW, MISSION, NASA, ORBIT, PAD, SAFELY, SPACECRAFT, STATION, VEHICLE.
SHUTTLING OFF TO SPACE!
I’LL BE
LO H Y A B Y R E V O C S I D AA R U N T F A RC E C A P S T C NB B A EV N O I TAT S LJ AD I B S R N O I S S I M AE O R F T L A AH C N UA L NN B B G L M E M Y L E F A S TDD A P O Y N V E H I C L E IW O L N O I T A R O L P X SH T R A E R U O V A E D N E
E
moon in the 1960s and ’70s, people were already planning the next stage of space exploration. Scientists believed building a station in space was the smart next step. But if we were going to build a permanent station out in space, we had to have a way to get people and construction materials out there. We needed a vehicle that could fly into space and return safely to Earth again and again. We needed a shuttle.
Astronaut Rick
Mastracchio helps move a 1,700-pound ammonia tank from Space Shuttle Discovery to the space station.
September 12, 2010 from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick Shuttle Program Winds Down
Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off from the launch pad. The last flight for Discovery is scheduled for Nov. 1, 2010. The last flight for Space Shuttle Endeavour is scheduled for Feb. 26, 2011. Space Shuttle Atlantis’ last scheduled flight landed safely on Earth on May 26, 2010.
Finishing the space station
During the last two shuttle missions, astronauts will complete the construction of the International Space Station, or ISS. The shuttles will bring as many spare parts to the ISS as possible. There are several storage compartments on the outside of the ISS. Stored parts range from a gyroscope* to computer boxes.
*A gyroscope (JIE-ruh-skope) is an instrument used to help hold the station’s position in space. The storage areas are bolted to the
ISS and protected from dangers such as cold. If the crew needs parts, they can do a space walk to the storage areas.
The shuttles share space station transportation duties with other countries, including Russia, Japan, Canada, and countries in the European Space Agency, or ESA. After the shuttle program ends, ISS
crews will depend on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft to transport astronauts and cosmonauts back and forth. Many countries in the partnership will help bring cargo to the ISS.
A Soyuz spacecraft flies in front of the shuttle Discovery docked at ISS.
photo courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center
photos courtesy NASA
photos courtesy NASA
Basset Brown The News Hound’s
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