Lots of kids love to pretend they are boarding a rocket ship that will take them on a speedy trip into the solar system where they can float amongst the stars. Maybe they have watched a movie about space explorers landing on the moon, or even imagined being the first human to make it to Mars. For little ones dreaming of an exciting career, share some of these incredible facts about astronauts that shed light on the years of work it takes before ever considering a trip to outer space.
Astronaut Trivia For Children Who Love Outer Space
Ignite a little one's imagination for space exploration through reading children's books about astronauts. Kids will love reading about the hours of training that is required before even boarding a rocket ship. They will learn about life inside a spaceship, like how astronauts sleep, what they eat, and how they pass their time during travel to and from the destination. There are lessons about science and gravity woven throughout. After story time is over, you will want to share this cool trivia about the life and history of astronauts and everything we have learned from their explorations.
Everything Kids Want To Know About Astronauts
Kids are often captivated by astronauts and space exploration for several compelling reasons. Learning about astronauts ignites a child's imagination, allowing them to envision themselves soaring through galaxies, constructing moon colonies, or even encountering extraterrestrial life. This kind of imaginative play makes grasping basic scientific and physics concepts much more enjoyable. Furthermore, astronauts serve as real-life heroes who embark on incredible adventures. Their courage, dedication, and the challenges they conquer inspire children to dream big and believe they can achieve extraordinary feats. As kids ponder how rockets fly, what gravity is, and how astronauts live in space, they gain an excellent introduction to these fascinating fields. Continue reading to uncover the most interesting facts about astronauts to share with your children.
(1) The term ASTRONAUT literally means star sailor.
It's a Greek term formed from the words astron and nautes. Sailors are typically considered explorers at sea, but it makes total sense to use this word for those who navigate outer space. An astronaut is someone trained and sent by a human spaceflight program to journey beyond Earth's atmosphere, serving as either a commander or crew member on a spacecraft.
(2) Astronauts temporarily grow taller in space.
Astronauts usually get about 3% taller (up to 2 inches or 5 cm) during their first few days in space. But this isn't a lasting change. As soon as they come back to Earth, gravity takes over again, and their spines compress, returning them to their normal height pretty quickly.
(3) Astronauts must learn Russian before traveling to the International Space Station.
For years, the Russian Soyuz spacecraft was the sole ride for astronauts traveling to and from the ISS after the Space Shuttle was retired. Everything on the Soyuz—all the procedures, labels, and commands—is in Russian. Even though commercial crew vehicles like SpaceX's Dragon are now in use, the Soyuz is still vital, and astronauts from many countries continue to train and fly on it. So, while new spacecraft might lessen the future need for Russian during transport, the ongoing partnership with Roscosmos and the ISS's design mean that knowing Russian remains a very important skill for astronauts.
(4) Astronauts wear diapers during space missions.
Called Maximum Absorbency Garments, they come in handy during long missions when using a proper bathroom is just not convenient or even possible. Astronauts are secured in their seats for hours during launch and re-entry, making it impossible to use the spacecraft's toilets. Similarly, during spacewalks, which can stretch for eight hours or more, astronauts are in their bulky suits and cannot take them off. The MAGs let them relieve themselves without having to cut short a critical spacewalk or risk their safety.
(5) Sally Ride was the first female to travel to outer space.
On June 18, 1983, Sally Ride made history as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. Her pioneering flight was a monumental moment for women in science, inspiring countless girls and women to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. A highly accomplished physicist, Ride earned her Ph.D. from Stanford University before joining NASA, a strong scientific background that greatly aided her role as a mission specialist. After her time in space, she played a crucial role in investigating both the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986 and the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003.
(6) Astronauts must exercise to combat loss of bone density and muscle atrophy.
On Earth, gravity constantly stresses our bones, helping them stay strong and dense. But in microgravity, bones that normally bear weight, like those in your spine, hips, and legs, no longer experience this essential load. It's similar for muscles: on Earth, they're always working against gravity to keep us upright and moving. In space, with no gravity to resist, these "anti-gravity" muscles—such as those in your calves, thighs, back, and neck—don't have to work as hard. Without regular exercise, astronauts would become severely weak, struggling with even simple tasks in space.
(7) A Master's degree is the minimum education required to become an astronaut.
Becoming an astronaut, especially for an agency like NASA, demands a substantial amount of education and experience. It's an incredibly competitive field, and most candidates go well beyond the basic requirements. At a minimum, candidates need a Master's degree from an accredited institution in a STEM field such as engineering, computer science, physics, chemistry, or mathematics. However, many successful astronaut candidates hold Ph.D.s or even multiple advanced degrees.
