Spaceflight

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/spaceflight

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 lunar landing?Apollo 11 landed on the Moon on July 20, 1969
2. What is the key technological spin-offs?Includes memory foam, GPS technology, satellite communication, and advanced medical imaging
3. How do rockets reach space?Rockets push out hot gases very fast, which creates thrust that pushes the rocket up. They often have several stages that are dropped as they burn, making the launch lighter and more efficient.
4. Why did the Space Race happen?During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union wanted to show they could travel to space first. This led to the launch of the first satellite, Sputnik, and the first human, Yuri Gagarin, orbiting Earth.

Rocket Equation: A mathematical formula that relates a rocket's change in velocity to the exhaust velocity and mass ratio.
Orbital Mechanics: The study of the motion of celestial bodies and spacecraft under the influence of gravity.
Space Debris: Artificial objects in orbit around Earth that are no longer functional or useful.