Origins of the International Space Station

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/origins-of-the-international-space-station

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. Why did the United States and Russia decide to build the ISS together?After the Cold War, both countries realized that building a big space station alone was too expensive and difficult. They chose to share costs and knowledge, turning competition into cooperation.
2. What was the Freedom project?Freedom was a U.S. plan started in the 1980s to build a space station, but it faced big budget challenges.

Geopolitics: The study of how geography and economics influence the politics and international relations of countries.
Microgravity Research: Scientific experiments conducted in an environment where gravitational forces are significantly reduced.
Modular Construction: A building approach where pre-fabricated sections or modules are assembled to create a larger structure.