Spaceplane

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/spaceplane

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 orbital spaceplane launch method?All orbital spaceplanes have launched vertically using rocket propulsion
2. What is the re-entry and landing profile?Orbital spaceplanes re-enter the atmosphere and land as unpowered gliders on runways

Aerodynamics: The study of how air moves around solid objects and the forces it creates.
Astronautics: The science and engineering of spaceflight, including spacecraft design and operation.
Kármán Line: An internationally recognized boundary at 100 kilometers (62 miles) above sea level, often considered the edge of space.
Thermal Protection System (TPS): Materials and structures designed to shield a spacecraft from extreme heat during re-entry.