homework encyclopedia

Space^31

Anyone who travels in space is called an

astronaut. The Russians call their space travellers

cosmonauts. Most astronauts stay in space for

only a few days, but some remain

there for months in the International

Space Station (ISS).

Any work that astronauts perform outside a spacecraft is called

extravehicular activity (EVA) or spacewalking. On EVA, astronauts

wear protective spacesuits and are attached to the spacecraft by

a safety tether. In 1982, astronauts tried out

a jet-propelled backpack called a manned

manoeuvring unit (MMU).

WHY DO ASTRONAUTS NEED TO LEAVE

A SPACECRAFT?

One major job for spacewalking astronauts has been

to help rescue and repair satellites. On some missions,

shuttle astronauts have carried out in-orbit servicing

on the Hubble Space Telescope, replacing faulty or

outdated equipment. Astronauts may also carry out

space construction work. Lengthy EVAs are helping

to assemble the International Space Station (ISS)

from parts ferried into orbit by other vehicles.

HOW DO ASTRONAUTS TRAIN FOR THEIR MISSIONS?

Pilots and commanders have flight training in jet

planes and flight simulators. Mission specialists

rehearse mission procedures and experiments. They

may train for EVA submerged in water tanks, where

conditions are similar to the weightlessness of space.

WHAT KINDS OF TASKS DO ASTRONAUTS PERFORM?

On missions into orbit, a commander and pilot fly the

spacecraft. On past missions, specialists have made

observations, carried out experiments and, if necessary,

performed. EXTRAVEHICULAR ACTIVITIES (EVAs).

ASTRONAUTS

Astronauts

1 SUITED FOR SPACEWALKING

A spacesuit is a multilayer garment that provides an astronaut with

pressurized oxygen and protection from the hazards of space – extreme

heat and cold, radiation, and meteorite particles.

EXTRAVEHICULAR ACTIVITIES

Portable life-support

system in backpack,

provides oxygen, water

(to cool the suit), and

electricity. It will keep

an astronaut alive for

up to 8 hours

1 MULTI-AXIS WHEEL
Astronauts are whirled round to prepare their
bodies for the strange sensations of space flight.

1 FIRST PERSON IN SPACE

Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin made one orbit of

Earth in a Vostok capsule on 12 April 1961.

Space gloves

are heated to

keep astronaut’s

fingers flexible

in extreme cold

Tool clips for

attaching drills,

screwdrivers, and

wrenches

NASA PROJECT BADGE

One of two

spinning

wheels

Astronaut’s

cage

Backpack control box

DATE MISSION ASTRONAUT EVA

1965 Voskhod 2 Alexei Leonov 1st spacewalk (10 mins)

1969 Apollo 11 Neil Armstrong 1st Moonwalk (2 hours 30 mins)

2001 ISS Jim Voss Longest spacewalk (8 hours 56 mins)

LANDMARK EVAS

FIND OUT MORE. Forces 164 • Space Observatories 29 • Space Stations 33

Helmet with

gold-coated

visor to reflect

light and heat

WORKING IN SPACE 3

An astronaut is at work on the

ISS, high above the Earth. The

tools he uses are tethered to his

suit so they don’t float away – he,

in turn, is tethered to the craft.

astronauts