Space station facts for kids
A space station is like a giant home or laboratory that floats in space. Astronauts live there for a long time, doing important experiments for science. It's a special place where humans can stay in space for weeks or even months!
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What is a Space Station?
Space stations are big structures built by humans. They orbit around Earth, much like a moon orbits a planet. These stations are designed for astronauts to live and work. They have special areas for sleeping, eating, exercising, and doing scientific research.
Why Do We Have Space Stations?
Space stations are super important for learning about space. They let scientists study how living in space affects the human body over a long time. This helps us plan for future trips to places like Mars. Astronauts also do many different science experiments on the station. These experiments can be about plants, materials, or even how fire behaves in space. It's much easier to do these long experiments on a space station than on a short trip in a spaceship.
The International Space Station (ISS)
As of 2019, the most famous space station is the International Space Station (ISS). It's a huge project built by many countries working together. The ISS orbits about 400 kilometers (250 miles) above Earth. It has been continuously lived in by astronauts since the year 2000. It's a symbol of international teamwork in space.
Future Space Stations
Many countries and companies are planning new space stations for the future. China has its own station called Tiangong. Countries like India, Russia, and the U.S. are also looking to build more stations. Private companies like Bigelow Aerospace and Axiom Space are also getting involved. This means we might see even more amazing space homes in the sky soon!
Images for kids
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The U.S. Skylab station of the 1970s
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Mir station seen in 1998
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View of the International Space Station in 2009
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Rendering of Tiangong Space Station in July 2022
See also
In Spanish: Estación espacial para niños
