Space

SPACESPACE

An An astronautastronaut travels into travels into space.space.

We all live on We all live on EarthEarth..

Alpha Centauri is the Alpha Centauri is the name of a name of a starstar..

There’s an American There’s an American spacespace shuttleshuttle called Columbia . called Columbia .

In 1969, the American In 1969, the American astronaut Neil Armstrong astronaut Neil Armstrong

walked on walked on the Moonthe Moon..

The The sunsun is at the centre of is at the centre of our our Solar systemSolar system..

AstronautsAstronauts sometimes sometimes travel in a travel in a rocketrocket..

In science fiction films, In science fiction films, astronautsastronauts often meet an often meet an

alienalien..

MercuryMercury is a is a planetplanet in our in our Solar systemSolar system..

AstronautsAstronauts often stay in often stay in spacespace for days or even for days or even

weeks. They work hard, so weeks. They work hard, so a healthy diet is very a healthy diet is very

important. They take their important. They take their food with them in a food with them in a rocketrocket..

For example, For example, NASA NASA astronautsastronauts on the on the

American American space shuttlespace shuttle can choose from a menu of can choose from a menu of

seventy different seventy different breakfasts, lunches and breakfasts, lunches and

dinners.dinners.

The Japanese The Japanese astronautastronaut Mamoru Mohri always Mamoru Mohri always

takes some Japanese food. takes some Japanese food. They don’t take any water They don’t take any water with them, but that isn’t a with them, but that isn’t a problem. The problem. The space shuttlespace shuttle

makes water!makes water!

So why are scientists So why are scientists looking for water in other looking for water in other parts of our parts of our Solar systemSolar system? ?

The answer is simple. The answer is simple. Water is essential for life.Water is essential for life.

The existance of water means The existance of water means that plants can grow – and that plants can grow – and plants provide us with food. plants provide us with food.

With food and water, humans With food and water, humans can live in can live in spacespace for longer for longer periods of time – perhaps periods of time – perhaps

permanently!permanently!

Apart from Apart from EarthEarth, most of , most of the the planetsplanets in our in our SolarSolar

systemsystem are too hot or too are too hot or too cold for water. But there cold for water. But there are other possibilities.are other possibilities.

Scientists are exploring the Scientists are exploring the surface of surface of the Moonthe Moon. And they . And they also think that there is some also think that there is some

water on Europa, one of water on Europa, one of JupiterJupiter’s ’s moonsmoons. Perhaps . Perhaps there are some plants on there are some plants on

Europa, too – some food for Europa, too – some food for astronauts of the future!astronauts of the future!

How many different types of How many different types of food can food can astronautsastronauts eat on eat on

the the space shuttlespace shuttle??SeventySeventy

What does Mamoru Mohri What does Mamoru Mohri take with him on the take with him on the spacespace

shuttleshuttle??Some Japanese food.Some Japanese food.

Why don’t the Why don’t the astronautsastronauts take any water on the take any water on the spacespace

shuttleshuttle??Because the Because the space shuttlespace shuttle

makes water.makes water.

Why isn’t there any water Why isn’t there any water on most other on most other planetsplanets??

Because they are too hot or Because they are too hot or too cold.too cold.

What is Europa?What is Europa?

It is one of It is one of JupiterJupiter’s ’s moonsmoons..

SPACE QUIZSPACE QUIZ

How many How many planetsplanets are are there in the there in the Solar systemSolar system??

Nine.Nine.

How much water do How much water do spacespace shuttle astronautsshuttle astronauts take with take with

them into them into spacespace??0 litres.0 litres.

How many How many moonsmoons has has JupiterJupiter got? got?

Sixteen.Sixteen.

How many hours do How many hours do astronautsastronauts usually sleep usually sleep

every night?every night?Eight hours.Eight hours.

How many How many starsstars are there in are there in the the UniverseUniverse, ,

approximately?approximately?Four hundred billion.Four hundred billion.

How much money does How much money does NASANASA cost the USA every cost the USA every

year?year?Fourteen billion dollars.Fourteen billion dollars.