Space Exploration

“To infinity…and beyond!” Buzz Lightyear’s catchphrase may seem silly, but in fact, it encompasses both the incredible promise and incredible difficulty of real space exploration. In this issue, kids will learn just what infinity means in terms of space travel; the distances are so great that unless we discover how to “teleport” ourselves, humans will forever be confined to exploring the Solar System. They’ll find out why a rocket or shuttle must be able to travel at 10 times the speed of a rifle bullet to exit Earth’s atmosphere, and delve into the history of the great Space Race between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., which propelled both nations to send manned and unmanned rockets and probes into orbit.

Space Exploration, for kids, is made comprehensible with a “day in the life” pictorial of Colonel Pamela Ann Melroy, a space shuttle veteran who shares pictures of her trips and answers the questions you really want to ask, like how you go to the bathroom in zero gravity. Then take a look at the International Space Station, as well as the risks of space exploration. For kids who want to know more about what happened in the Challenger and Columbia disasters this section will be gripping. Finally, read up on new frontiers in space exploration and the $10 million X Prize; who really knows what inventions humans will come up with next when it comes to seeking further horizons?

Show Less