Astronauts
Astronauts
Learn what it takes to be an Astronaut. Find images, biographies, and interesting information describing the intriguing explorations of space travelers. What do astronauts eat in space? Can they grow food? Try Astronaut Ice Cream. It’s freeze-dried, ready to eat, neopolitan ice cream. We picked ours up last time we went to Cranbrook Science Center. The back of the package says it’s similar to what the U.S. astronauts on past space missions dating back to the Apollo program enjoyed. We also tried the freeze-dried cheese pizza. One of my favorites as a kid which will be coming back soon is the Space Food Sticks. You can also make an astronaut costume with milk jugs, duct tape and other household items.
Born July 18, 1921, John Glenn, Jr was the First U.S. Astronaut to orbit the Earth on February 20, 1962. Read about Glenn’s return to space at the age of 77 on October 29, 1998. Learn more about John Glenn through a brief biography and chronology. The NASA Glenn Research Center defines and develops propulsion, electrical power, and communications technologies for NASA’s aeronautics and space missions.
July 20, 1969 – Armstrong & Aldrin step on the moon
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Neil Armstrong
Apollo 11 was launched on July 16, 1969, from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, manned by astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., and Michael Collins. The spacecraft consisted of the Command Module and the Lunar Module. Once in lunar orbit, Armstrong and Aldrin transferred to the Lunar Module to descend to the moon’s surface. Listen to Armstrong’s first words and the famous quote “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind“. The Moon has one-sixth the gravitational force of the Earth. To find your weight as it would be on the Moon, divide your weight by six. Make a Lowell Observatory Moon Clock. Learn all about astronauts and search for more NASAexplores activities for all age groups. For some neat activities using an ordinary paper plate, visit Paper Plate Education whose motto for this page is “Serving the Universe on a Paper Plate”.
May 26, 1951 – Sally Ride’s Birthday. In 1983, Dr. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space June 18, 1983 on the shuttle Challenger (STS-7). Her next flight was an eight-day mission in 1984, again on Challenger (STS 41-G). Her cumulative hours of space flight are more than 343. In 2001 she founded Sally Ride Science, formerly known as Imaginary Lines, an organization founded to provide support for all the girls who are, or might become, interested in science, math and technology.
May 5, 1961 – First American in Space Alan B. Shepard, Jr.. Shepard demonstrated that individuals can control a vehicle during weightlessness and high G stresses, and significant scientific biomedical data were acquired. He reached a speed of 5,100 miles per hour and his flight lasted 14.8 minutes. More about Shepard, the first American in space.
