Level 1:
Astronauts are busy in space. They work, eat, and sleep. They do maintenance. They also exercise for two hours. This is to stay healthy. They talk to people on Earth too. And they do science experiments. At night, they sleep in small cabins. This is a day for an astronaut in space.
Level 2:
Ever wondered what a day is like for an astronaut in space? It’s a routine filled with work, food, exercise, and communication. Astronauts spend a big part of their day maintaining the space station. This can involve repairing equipment or cleaning. They also dedicate two hours a day to exercise. This keeps their muscles and bones strong. Plus, they conduct science experiments. And, they communicate with mission control and their loved ones back on Earth. When it’s time to sleep, astronauts retire to small cabins. It’s a packed schedule with little room for leisure.
Full Story:
From dawn to dusk, the daily life of an astronaut is anything but ordinary. It isn’t just about spectacular spacewalks or epic views of Earth. The reality is anchored in routine and hard work, with every moment accounted for.
A day in space kicks off with an astronaut waking up at around 6 A.M. GMT. This may sound early, but when you’re in space, you orbit around the Earth every 90 minutes, seeing a sunrise and a sunset each time. The first order of the day is usually a quick cleanup and breakfast, almost no different from Earth, except for the floating food and water.
A morning planning conference with mission control sets the day in motion. This allows them to be in the loop about the day’s plans, and to clarify any points of doubt. The onboard schedule is digitally updated throughout the day to accommodate for any changes happening 400 kilometers below them.
Work hours usually include maintenance tasks. The International Space Station, like any home, requires upkeep. Whether it’s equipment repairs or air filter changes, those jobs need to be skillfully attended to. The astronauts also set aside at least two hours a day for intense physical workouts. Exercise devices designed for zero gravity help them battle against the bone and muscle loss caused by living in space. Regular workouts fend off the negative health impacts of weightlessness.
But the astronauts aren’t just there to maintain the spaceship. A key part of their work revolves around scientific experiments. From studying how the human body adapts to microgravity to testing technologies for deep space exploration, each experiment adds to our understanding of living in space.
Perhaps the only reminder of home comes in the breaks when astronauts enjoy a meal or catch up with mission control and their families on Earth. During these pockets of downtime, they share their experiences and capture photographs of our planet as seen from space.
Like on Earth, the days round off with preparation for bedtime, typically around 10 P.M. GMT. Astronauts retreat to their tiny cabins where they strap themselves to avoid floating around while they rest. After all, in space, you don’t quite ‘settle’ down to sleep.
FAQ:
Question: What tasks do astronauts typically carry out during their work hours in space?
Answer: During their work hours, astronauts usually perform maintenance tasks on the space station, conduct science experiments, and also dedicate at least two hours for exercise.
Question: How do astronauts maintain their physical health in space?
Answer: Astronauts maintain their physical health by dedicating at least two hours a day for intense exercise, using specially-designed equipment that allows workouts in zero gravity.
Question: What are the types of scientific experiments done by astronauts in space?
Answer: Some types of scientific experiments done by astronauts include studying how the human body adapts to microgravity and testing technologies for deep space exploration.
Question: How do astronauts communicate with Earth while in space?
Answer: Astronauts communicate with Earth through scheduled calls with mission control and sometimes, their families too. These usually take place during their breaks.
Question: What is sleep like for astronauts in space?
Answer: Astronauts sleep in small individual cabins where they have to strap themselves down to avoid floating around due to zero gravity.
Fill in the Blanks:
orbit around, be in the loop, set aside, battle against, adds to, catch up, round off, fend off
This may sound early, but when you’re in space, you _________ the Earth every 90 minutes.
A morning planning conference with mission control allows them to ________ about the day’s plans.
The astronauts also _______ at least two hours a day for intense physical workouts.
Exercise devices designed for zero gravity help them _________ the bone and muscle loss.
Each experiment _______ our understanding of living in space.
During these pockets of downtime, they _________ with mission control.
Like on Earth, the days _________ with preparation for bedtime.
Regular workouts _________ the negative health impacts of weightlessness.
Difficult Words:
Orbit around - (phrase) to revolve around something in a path.
Be in the loop - (phrase) to be informed or aware about something.
Set aside - (phrase) to reserve or dedicate time or resources for a particular purpose.
Battle against - (phrase) to actively fight or oppose something.
Add to - (phrase) to increase or enhance something in quantity, quality, or value.
Catch up - (phrase) to discuss one’s news with someone.
Round off - (phrase) to finish something in a satisfactory or pleasing way.
Fend off - (phrase) to resist or avoid something.
