Astronaut

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/astronaut

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What was Astronaut's job?Astronaut (NASA, ESA), Cosmonaut (Roscosmos), Taikonaut (CNSA), and increasingly, Commercial Astronaut
2. What is the primary objective?Conducting scientific research, technological development, exploration, and potentially establishing off-world habitats
3. What does an astronaut do in space?Astronauts travel to space to explore the universe, do experiments, repair spacecraft, and use robotic arms to help scientists learn new things.
4. How do astronauts train for space missions?Astronauts train for many years, learning how to use spacecraft, practice emergency drills, swim in underwater labs to simulate spacewalks, and ride high‑G centrifuges to get used to strong forces.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA): Any activity done by an astronaut outside a spacecraft beyond the Earth's appreciable atmosphere.
Space Radiation: High-energy particles originating from the sun and deep space that pose health risks to astronauts.
Microgravity Research: Scientific experiments conducted in an environment with significantly reduced gravitational effects.
Spacecraft Systems: The complex array of technologies and components that enable a spacecraft to function and sustain life.