The International Space Station

What is the primary purpose of the International Space Station?

• To serve as a home for astronauts and cosmonauts

• To act as a unique science laboratory

• To orbit Earth at an average altitude of 250 miles

• To travel at 17,500 mph

When was the first piece of the International Space Station launched?

• November 1998

• November 2000

• November 2001

• November 2011

How often does the International Space Station orbit Earth?

• Every 60 minutes

• Every 90 minutes

• Every 120 minutes

• Every 180 minutes

What is the volume of the International Space Station comparable to?

• A three-bedroom house

• A five-bedroom house

• A Boeing 747 jetliner

• A football field

Which countries have laboratory modules on the International Space Station?

• United States, Russia, Japan, and Europe

• United States, China, India, and Europe

• Russia, China, Japan, and India

• United States, Russia, China, and Europe

What do the solar arrays on the International Space Station do?

• Provide living areas for crew members

• Collect energy from the sun to provide electrical power

• Connect parts of the station to each other

• Control the space station’s temperature

How do astronauts arrive at the International Space Station?

• On the Russian Soyuz

• On the space shuttle Endeavour

• On robotic spacecraft

• On the space shuttle Discovery

What does the word "orbit" most likely mean in the context of the text?

• A path that something follows around another object

• A part of the spacecraft that is used for power

• A scientific experiment in space

• A tool used by astronauts

Which word from the text is closest in meaning to "constructed" or "built"?

• Assembled

• Launched

• Research

• Docking

The word "microgravity" refers to:

• A planet outside Earth’s solar system

• The special equipment astronauts use for walking in space

• The space station in orbit around Earth where crews of astronauts and cosmonauts live.

• A condition in which objects appear to have little or no weight due to the absence of gravity