International Space Station for Kids Quiz

Answer: A satellite

A satellite is a man-made object which has been sent into space to orbit around the Earth. It is either used for communications, navigation, or like the International Space Station, as a temporary home for astronauts while they capture information and carry out experiments.

Answer: Pressurised modules

The main parts of the International Space Station are called modules. They were constructed on Earth and then sent into space where they were fixed together by astronauts. The first module called Zarya was launched into space in 1998, and this was followed by Unity, Zvezda and Destiny.

They are all pressurised, which means that astronauts can safely live and breathe inside each compartment without having to wear breathing apparatus.

Answer: 240 miles

The International Space Station is approximately 240 miles above Earth. It weighs 925,000 pounds, is roughly the size of an American football field, has eight miles of wire, two bathrooms and an observation area called Cupola, from where thousands of images and videos of our planet have been relayed back to Earth.

Answer: 16

The International Space Station orbits Earth every 92 minutes, meaning that astronauts on board get to see around 16 sunrises and sunsets every day. Although life on the station is mildly affected by the unusual timings, astronauts have been trained beforehand to adapt. They still structure their day based on Greenwich Mean Time.

Answer: Microgravity

Microgravity is when gravity is so weak that it results in weightlessness. Astronauts and the International Space Station appear to be floating in space but they are actually in free-fall due to the gravitational pull towards Earth. At the same time, they are orbiting around the curve of Earth, accelerating at approximately five miles per second.

Instead of falling down to Earth, they are falling around Earth.

Answer: Space walk

Extravehicular activity is another term for space walk. A space walk is where an astronaut wears a specially designed space suit and leaves the safety of the space station to venture outside to carry out repairs or experiments. Astronauts are usually attached to tethers to stop them from drifting into space.

As well as the space suit providing breathing apparatus to the astronaut, they also regulate body temperature as the outside temperature as they orbit around Earth can reach plus or minus 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Answer: Solar

The International Space Station uses more than an acre of solar array wings to convert sunlight into electricity. Without power, the space station nor its temporary residents would be able to survive. The solar cells charge up the batteries which provide the energy for life support, propulsion, lighting, experiments, and not forgetting important communication with Earth.

Answer: The human body tends to lose muscle and bone mass rapidly in space.

The International Space Station has a specially designed treadmill, weight lifting machine using vacuum cylinders and a piece of equipment similar to an exercise bike. Imagine staying in bed for weeks on end without any exercise and you will get the same result as an astronaut living in a weightless environment.

Their muscle and bone density becomes weaker and they find it difficult to recover this when they return back to Earth.

Answer: True

Space food comes in a variety of different packaging, including cans and de-hydrated pouches. Hot or cold water is often added to drinks, stews and soups to re-hydrate them. Sandwiches can be made, meals heated up in an oven, fruit, sweets and nuts eaten as they come. Freeze-dried ice cream in sealed packs has regularly been eaten in space but more recently normal ice cream in plastic cups have been packed in a small freezer with other supplies and sent to the space station.

Answer: Robonaut

Robonaut, and more recently Robonaut 2, is a futuristic-looking robot which is on trial to assist in the more mundane tasks inside the space station. This is to free up time for the astronauts to carry out more important work. It is the first dexterous humanoid robot in space, meaning it resembles a human and has the facility to use hands with fingers and thumb to hold and use tools. Further tests have been carried out to create a robot with the use of legs which can also work outside the space station.