Space Exploration for Children: Interesting Information and Fun Facts
For millennia, people have dreamed of departing from Earth and visiting other planets. Then, in 1957, the Soviet Union launched the tiny satellite Sputnik, marking the first tentative step into space. It was official: the Space Age had arrived.
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Early universe efforts were dominated by the US and the USSR. Throughout time, however, Europe and Japan learned how to advance their rocketry and satellite technology.
Among the nations establishing their space industries at the moment are Brazil, India, China, Israel, and South Korea. Let’s read about the educational benefits of space exploration facts for children, along with some fascinating information that you and your children should know. Check them out below.
Kids’ Space Exploration
Over the past 60 years, unmanned probes have been sent to every planet in the Solar System in addition to numerous asteroids, satellites, and comets. Rovers have driven across the surfaces of the Moon and Mars, and soft landings have taken place on half a dozen worlds. A fleet of spacecraft has also conducted extensive and detailed research on the Sun.
Numerous space observatories, like the Hubble Space Telescope, have been launched to study the far-off universe. They have returned with some amazing visible light photos. It is possible to study stars and galaxies using wavelengths that are invisible to human vision, such as radio, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. The onslaught of new information has changed our understanding of the cosmos.
Space Exploration’s Advantages
The only planet in the solar system known to contain water is Earth (though it hasn’t been confirmed whether or not Jupiter’s moon Europa has frozen water on it). Consequently, life can only exist on Earth and no other planet. We must protect the water supplies we do have because living things like you, your family, and your dog or cat cannot survive without them.
This can encourage your kids to become interested in the solar system by encouraging them to use only what they need and to keep things as clean as possible. If they realize how special and important their planet’s resources are to the ecology, they will be more motivated to protect them. You could lessen the carbon footprint of your family with the help of this information.
Your kids will be able to make comparisons and contrasts between their planet and the other planets in the solar system if they learn about them. You can start with the next eight:
Mercury
With a size only marginally larger than the Moon, the planet closest to our sun is also the smallest in our solar system. Its orbit and rotation are completely different from ours, with long days and short years.
Venus
A strong greenhouse effect takes place beneath Venus’s thick clouds, which are so dense that the planet’s surface is far hotter than is livable for humans. This is a great way to talk about greenhouse gases and how they harm the planet over time.
Mars
There is a tallest mountain in the solar system on Mars, your nearest neighbor in the universe. At sixteen miles high, Olympus Mons is about three times the height of Mount Everest.
Jupiter
The largest planet in our solar system, this orange and red planet has dozens of moons. A massive, gaseous storm that has been raging for hundreds of years is represented by the large red spot that most children can recognize.
Saturn
This enormous gas giant lacks a solid surface, unlike Earth. What does this mean to people, and what can you do to protect the ground you walk on? Naturally, talking about Saturn wouldn’t be complete without bringing up its rings.
Uranus
Unlike all other planets, Uranus rotates sideways, which causes it to “roll” as opposed to rotate. This unusual movement has caused the planet to have 20 seasons that last a full year.
Neptune
This blue planet has winds that are nine times more powerful than those on Earth. Have you talked to your kids about the reasons behind wind?
Space Exploration: What Is It?
Universe exploration is the process of sending humans or tools into space or the cosmos to visit other planets, objects, or things there. Humanity has been dreaming of space travel for hundreds of years, but the first person to set foot on the Moon was not until 1969.
Since the first person set foot on the Moon, hundreds of satellites have been sent into orbit around the planet and into space, and hundreds of people have traveled into space on various kinds of spacecraft. Additionally, we have sent robots to investigate objects outside of our solar system.
Interesting Information
In 1961, Soviet astronaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person in history to enter orbit around the Earth.
In 1969, American Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the moon.
The Moon is the only place in space where humans have set foot aside from Earth.
People who fly into the universe are called astronauts. They have to watch what they eat and how much exercise they get while in the universe to stay healthy.
#11,000 miles per hour is the speed at which a spacecraft must reach orbit around the Earth.
Spacecraft are launched into orbit using massive rockets.