Pituffik Space Base

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/pituffik-space-base

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 is the location?Northwest coast of Greenland, Kingdom of Denmark
2. What is the logistical significance?Hosts the world's northernmost deep water port and a major airfield
3. Where is Pituffik Space Base located?It is on the northwest coast of Greenland, more than 1,200 km north of the Arctic Circle and about 1,500 km from the North Pole.
4. Why is the base so far north?Being far north lets its radar and sensors see rockets and missiles that travel over the Arctic, giving early warning for North America.

Space Domain Awareness: The ability to track and understand objects and activities in space to ensure safety and security.
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM): A long-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead across continents.
Geopolitical: Relating to politics, especially international relations, as influenced by geographical factors.