Spacecraft

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/spacecraft

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 first artificial satellite?Sputnik 1, launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957
2. What is the key navigation components?Star trackers, gyroscopes, onboard computers, and ground-based tracking networks
3. How do spacecraft travel to other planets?They use powerful chemical rockets to lift off and move into orbit. For long trips, they can use ion thrusters that push tiny charged particles to travel slowly but efficiently.
4. Why are satellites important for our everyday life?Satellites send signals that let us make phone calls, use the internet, watch TV, and find our way with GPS. They also watch Earth to help predict weather and protect people during disasters.

Vacuum: A space devoid of matter, presenting unique engineering challenges for spacecraft.
Propulsion System: The mechanism that generates thrust to move a spacecraft.
Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC): The systems that steer a spacecraft along its intended path.