by Claire Daniel

by Claire Daniel

Cover, © NASA; p. 3, © NASA-KSC; p. 4, © NASA-HQ-GRIN; p. 5, © NASA; pp. 6, 7, © NASA; p. 8,

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 On February 20, 1962, John Glenn sat inside the
spacecraft Friendship 7. For four hours and fifty-five
minutes, he flew in space, orbiting Earth three times.
As he gazed down at the most prominent feature outside
his window—the mottled green and blue planet, Earth,
below—he may have known that he would make the
history books. Glenn had become the first human to work
in space.
Since that day, astronauts have continued to explore
space, both on the ground and above. The United States
space agency, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space
Administration), was established for the purpose of space
exploration in 1958. NASA is the home for astronauts—
the men and women who work in space.

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 Jobs in Space
Each space mission is staffed with people who each
have a special set of talents. The team must include
experts in mathematics and physics. Chemists and
engineers are needed to help design spacecraft and to
ensure the safety of astronauts. Scientists who know
how to conduct experiments in space are also needed.
Skilled pilots are needed to fly the spacecraft. In addition,
a space mission usually has four kinds of astronauts
aboard: the commander, a pilot, the mission specialist,
and payload specialists.

Commander The commander is the leader in charge of

the mission. A commander must be an experienced pilot
and is responsible for the safety of the crew.
Pilot An additional pilot flies the spacecraft with the
commander and assists the commander in all duties.
The pilot may also have other specialized duties during a
mission. For example, the pilot might operate the RMS,
the remote manipulator arm.
This part of the spacecraft
moves and lifts different
equipment outside the
spacecraft. The operator of
the RMS uses a computer to
move the RMS, also called a
robot arm.

The RMS is a robot arm that

is operated from within the
spacecraft by an astronaut.
4

RXENL08ARD6O26_OLR.indd 4 SPEC# RXENL08ARD6O26_OLR_003P 10/17/06 10:18:19 AM

 Mission Specialists Mission specialists have distinctive
duties. They are in charge of completing experiments.
They might test the growth of seeds in space or study the
human body’s reaction to being in space. They operate
equipment on the spacecraft, as well as the RMS. They
may also take space walks outside the spacecraft.
Payload Specialists Sometimes a mission may require
people who are not NASA astronauts to perform special
tasks. These people do not operate the spacecraft but
serve as important members of the crew. For example,
NASA might hire a doctor to monitor the reaction of a
person’s body during space travel. NASA might need
a scientist to collect specific information or to perform
experiments during a mission.

SPEC# RXENL08ARD6O26_OLR_004P
RXENL08ARD6O26_OLR.indd 5 10/17/06 10:18:40 AM
Getting to Work
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 Suiting Up
Working outside in space is much more difficult than
working on Earth. Temperatures can be extremely hot or
extremely cold. Tiny meteoroids can “rain” outside the Helme
shuttle or space station. There is also the possibility of Extrav
exposure to harmful radiation from the sun. Visor A
Astronauts must wear space suits to protect their
bodies when they work outside the spacecraft. Space suits
must be made of strong materials that won’t fall apart in
harsh environments.
A space suit is completely sealed. It
provides astronauts with oxygen and protects
them from extreme temperatures. It also Displa
protects them from the impact of small Contro
meteoroids. The suit has a helmet with a
clear front so that the astronaut can see to
work. Each suit has a built-in radio that the
astronaut uses to talk to other astronauts.
Sometimes an astronaut needs to move a short
distance from the shuttle to another object, such as a
satellite. For this, a backpack with small rockets inside it is
used. The backpack is called a Manned Maneuvering Unit
(MMU). On the surface of the moon, an astronaut could
use an MMU to cross a wide chasm.
Inside the shuttle or space station, astronauts take
off their space suits. They work in comfortable, everyday
clothes. Astronauts don’t need shoes in space, but they
do wear socks to keep their feet from getting cold.

RXENL08ARD6O26_OLR.indd 8 15/11/06 2:57:58 PM

 Arm Assembly /
Hard Upper Torso
Helmet / Communications
Extravehicular Carrier Assembly
Visor Assembly
Battery
In-Suit
Drink Bag
Primary Life
Display and Support
Control Module Subsystem

Secondary
Gloves
Oxygen Pack

Lower
Liquid Cooling
Torso
and Ventilation
Assembly
Garment

SPEC# RXENL08ARD6O26_OLR_014P
RXENL08ARD6O26_OLR.indd 9 10/17/06 10:20:19 AM
 Living in Space

Eating
Everything that the astronauts will eat and drink on a
mission must be taken with them into space. Astronauts
eat what most people eat, but food is prepared differently
in space. Most of their food has had the water removed
and comes sealed in packets that don’t weigh much or
take up much space. To make a meal, water is added to
the contents of a packet which is then heated up. There
may also be some fresh fruit and vegetables on the first
days after the launch.
Food is very important to astronauts working in the
ISS. Food is stored in a kitchen, or galley, where there is
a stove and refrigerator. All meals contain extra vitamins
and calcium to help keep astronauts healthy in space.

10

RXENL08ARD6O26_OLR.indd 10 SPEC# RXENL08ARD6O26_OLR_008P 10/17/06 10:20:42 AM

 Astronauts have to dine carefully in space because
food can easily float away! Also, they have to be careful
with water. A drop of liquid could float away and jam up a
very expensive piece of equipment. All water, crumbs, and
even lint must be handled carefully at all times!

Sleeping
Sleeping in space is one of the easiest things to do
because an astronaut can sleep anywhere. Because
astronauts are in a state of weightlessness, they can
comfortably sleep upside down or float around the cabin.
Some astronauts strap themselves into a sleeping bag
attached to a wall or the ceiling, and others use a pillow
they fasten to their heads. Most astronauts sleep for
eight hours a night, but some find that sleeping becomes
harder the longer one is in space.

11

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RXENL08ARD6O26_OLR.indd 11 10/17/06 10:20:55 AM
 Exercising
Astronauts must exercise
each day. Weightlessness
makes it harder for astronauts
to keep in shape. Exercise
keeps their muscles strong
and bone tissue healthy.

Bathing
Keeping clean is a
challenge in space. Since
showers are messy, some
astronauts take sponge baths
or use wet wipes to keep
clean. They brush their teeth
just like you do, but they have
to be careful with water and
toothpaste. All garbage has
to be stored and brought
back to Earth.

Free time
There is little free time in space, but astronauts do
sometimes relax. They might read a book or send an
e-mail to a family member. They might also play an
instrument or take photographs through the window.

12

RXENL08ARD6O26_OLR.indd 12 SPEC# RXENL08ARD6O26_OLR_010P 10/17/06 10:21:27 AM

Becoming an Astronaut
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 Astronaut Training
The astronauts train at the Johnson Space Center, a
facility in Houston, Texas. Even though most already have
advanced college degrees, astronauts take academic
classes in math and important sciences like geology,
meteorology, and astronomy. Outside the classroom, they
scuba dive, parachute jump, and learn about sea and
land survival. They learn how to wear a space suit. They
also go aboard a special airplane where they experience
20-second weightless sessions about forty times a day.
Another way to help astronauts learn to work while
weightless is training in a huge water tank. The astronauts
wear space suits and practice working in water where they
are almost weightless.
Astronauts also work in shuttle simulators. These
units familiarize the astronauts with the space shuttles.
Astronauts rehearse performing their duties in space
before they actually launch.
Each year, many applicants apply for positions as
astronauts at NASA, and few are chosen. However, if you
work and study hard, one day you could be working on the
ISS or be the very first astronaut to take the very first step
on Mars.

14

RXENL08ARD6O26_OLR.indd 14 SPEC# RXENL08ARD6O26_OLR_012P 9/23/06 1:00:16 PM

 Think Critically
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Word Count: WITHGRAPHIC