Download Science neWS

NE WS
NASA
p r e s e n t e d b y Science a-z a d i v i s i o n o f L e a r n i n g A - Z
© iStockphoto.com
Milorad Zaric
Science
in
the
Space Shuttle Program Ending
By Ron Fridell
Endeavour will be in space for 14
days before it returns to Florida.
The ship will deliver important
supplies to the International
Space Station (ISS). The ISS is a
science lab that orbits 354 km
(220 mi.) above Earth.
NASA
On April 19, 2011, after 30 years
of flights, the space shuttle
program is ending. NASA’s space
shuttle Endeavour will fly into
space with six astronauts on
board. The ship has flown 24
missions. This one will be its last.
Endeavour’s last flight crew (left to right): Gregory H. Johnson, Michael Fincke,
Greg Chamitoff, Mark Kelly, Andrew Feustel, Roberto Vittori
Tom Farrar/NASA
NASA
This mission will be space shuttle
flight number 134. It may also be
the final shuttle flight. There are
two other ships. Discovery has
already made its final flight. The
other, Atlantis, may make one
last flight this summer.
The International Space Station
People often give ships names related to adventure:
• Endeavour—a bold act
• Discovery —an exciting new find or invention
• Atlantis—a make-believe island nation that sank
due to an earthquake
What adventurous name would you give a spaceship?
© Learning A–Z All rights reserved.
1
The shuttle program began in
1981. It is ending in 2011 because
the ships cost too much to take
care of. But NASA plans to keep
the program going in a different
way by giving money to private
companies that want to build
new shuttles. Someday those
shuttles may carry astronauts
and even visitors into space.
www.sciencea-z.com
Science in the News
NASA/JPL/USGS
Continued from page 1
Astronomy Matching
F ly ing
into
History
A. astronauts
B. Earth
C. the space shuttle program
D. the planet Venus
E. International Space Station
Space shuttles have done
amazing things in 30 years.
In 1989, Atlantis took a
robotic space probe up
into space. It flew to Venus
and took pictures of the
planet’s surface,
which led to
the first good
map of Venus.
1. The letters in my name stand for National Aeronautics
and Space Administration. What am I? ____
2. I’m a science lab that orbits Earth.
What’s my name? ____
3. We are the people who fly space
shuttles. Who are we? ____
Venus
In 1990, Discovery
put the Hubble Space
Telescope into orbit. It sent
back amazing pictures
from deep in space. On
December 4, 1998, the
crew of Endeavour began
building the ISS. These are
just a few of the shuttle
program’s highlights.
4. I orbit the Sun between Mercury
and Earth. What am I? ____
5. I am the third planet from
the Sun. What am I? ____
6. Without me, you would be floating
around in the air. What am I? ____
7. I am the area between Earth and other planets.
What am I? ____
Hubble
9. I’m named for a make-believe island
that sank into the ocean. What am I? ____
10. I have lasted 30 years. What am I? ____
Write About This!
Why do astronauts float around? Space has no gravity to hold them down. Imagine that one day you
woke up and there was no gravity. Write a short story, poem, or newspaper article about what your day
would be like.
1. H; 2. E; 3. A; 4. D; 5. B; 6. G; 7. I; 8. F; 9. J; 10. C
© Learning A–Z All rights reserved.
2
www.sciencea-z.com
© Jupiterimages Corporation
8. My name means an exciting new find.
What am I? ____
NASA/STScI
NASA/ESA/the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)/and A. Aloisi (STScI/ESA)
F. Discovery
G. gravity
H. NASA
I. outer space
J. space shuttle Atlantis