Space Shuttle program

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

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-program

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 program built?135
2. What is Space Shuttle program known for?Assembly of the International Space Station (ISS)
3. What is the program operational years?1981-2011
4. What is the key scientific instrument serviced?Hubble Space Telescope
5. What was the Space Shuttle and why was it special?The Space Shuttle was a giant airplane that could fly to space and back, and it was special because it could be used many times instead of being thrown away after one flight.
6. How did the Space Shuttle launch into space?First, two solid rocket boosters gave it a big push for about two minutes, then they fell into the ocean. After that, the Shuttle’s three main engines used fuel from a big external tank to reach orbit.

Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV): A rocket designed for a single use, discarded after delivering its payload.
Thermal Protection System (TPS): Materials, like heat-resistant tiles, used to protect a spacecraft from extreme heat during re-entry.
Extravehicular Activity (EVA): Any activity done by an astronaut outside of a spacecraft in outer space.