Astronauts (Extreme Scientists)
Ever wonder what it's like to work on the International Space Station (ISS)? What do those astronauts do up there anyways? How do they spend their days in orbit? How did they train and prepare themselves to get there? What's some of the history behind human space exploration? These are all questions answered by Astronauts, a hi-lo nonfiction book for readers in Grades 3–9 that provides fun, inspiring, and sometimes terrifying information for anyone interested in the dynamic careers of astronauts and space work today.
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The Series
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Astronauts is one of six books in the hi-lo nonfiction series Extreme Scientists, which explores the remarkable careers of:
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Writing the Book
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I had so much fun researching and writing this book, and I'm pretty sure the other authors in the series did, too. I've always enjoyed learning about outer space, space bodies and phenomena, and space travel, and I love to share that information with my own children. Where did I decide to start the book? With a walk in space, of course, a prospect that utterly terrifies but amazes me!
I enjoyed researching the history of astronauts and space programs in the United States and around the world, but I especially appreciated learning more about what astronauts are doing today and what it's like to live in orbit for months at a time. The work that they do is remarkable and of great benefit to people back home on Earth.
Want to know more? Check out NASA's 20 Breakthroughs from 20 Years of Science aboard the International Space Station and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's 20 Inventions We Wouldn't Have Without Space Travel. So many amazing things have come space science research and travel into space.
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If you (or a young space enthusiast in your life) want to know more about how astronauts train and prepare to live and work in outer space, and what jobs you can do as an astronaut, then this book's for you (or them).
​NASA Resources
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NASA has SO much amazing material that you can explore. I got lost for days, and I'm getting a bit lost again now just writing this.
Check out these awesome videos from NASA about becoming an astronaut:
You can also learn more about becoming an astronaut from the NASA website:
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NASA Kid Stuff
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Got kid Earth and space enthusiasts? You don't get much better than Nasa Space Place if you have young learners interested in our planet, the galaxy, and the universe around us. This website has so many wonderful tools, games, and other resources. They even offer a NASA Space Place Art Challenge every month or so! You can bet I just pestered my almost-ten-year-old budding artist about that.
Live from the ISS and More
You can tune in to see what's happening on the International Space Station any time you want! Just watch the Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream).
NASA also has its own You Tube channel with lots of interesting videos you can explore, from updates on planned missions to daily experiences from the astronauts in orbit. Space.com has a whole series of videos showing launches and snippets of what daily life is like aboard the ISS. Check out two of my current favorites: