Space Shuttle Atlantis

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/space-shuttle-atlantis

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. When was Space Shuttle Atlantis built?4,848
2. What is the orbiter vehicle designation?OV-104
3. What is the manufacturer?Rockwell International
4. How many times did Atlantis fly?Atlantis flew on 33 missions, making 4,848 orbits around Earth. It traveled about 126 million miles, which is more than 500 times the distance from Earth to the Moon and back.
5. What did Atlantis help build in space?Atlantis helped build the International Space Station and worked on the Hubble Space Telescope, bringing many satellites into orbit.

Orbiter Vehicle (OV): The component of the Space Shuttle system that functions as a spacecraft and aircraft.
Solid Rocket Booster (SRB): Large, solid-fuel rockets that provide the primary thrust during the initial ascent of the Space Shuttle.
Thermal Protection System (TPS): A system of heat-resistant tiles and materials designed to protect the orbiter from extreme temperatures during re-entry.
International Space Station (ISS): A modular space station in low Earth orbit, a collaborative project involving multiple space agencies.