Astronaut

Children's Literature

The word astronaut comes from the Greek words that mean star sailor. Astronauts are scientists and engineers who devote their lives to exploring space. In the early days of space travel, the spacecraft were only used once. The spacecraft would land in the ocean and, after retrieving the astronauts, would be hauled off to a museum. Today, astronauts travel on space shuttles that are reusable. They are sent into space with booster rockets. Three kinds of astronauts participate in each mission: the commander, the pilot, and mission specialists. Most astronauts say they wanted to visit space from the time they were children. It is important for students who want to become astronauts to study as much math and science as they can. In addition to a college degree, prospective astronauts need to have experience in their field. Pilot astronauts must accumulate 1000 hours of flight time piloting a jet aircraft. Aspiring astronauts must apply to NASA to be accepted into their astronaut training program. The training takes almost two years. An important part of their training is being able to adjust to weightlessness. Dr. Ellen Baker's career as an astronaut provides insight into the highlights and risks of this profession. Part of the "Exploring Careers" series. 2006, Thomson Gale, Ages 8 to 12.
—Kristin Harris