the International Space Station: What Is Life Like on Station, Explained for Kids Who Love

The International Space Station is one of the most extraordinary achievements in human history - a football-field-sized laboratory orbiting 400 kilometers above Earth, continuously inhabited by astronauts and cosmonauts from 22 nations for more than two decades. The International Space Station takes young readers inside this remarkable outpost in space, explaining how it was built piece by piece over 42 assembly flights, how its systems keep people alive in a vacuum, and what daily life is really like for the crews who live there. Readers will discover how astronauts eat, sleep, exercise, and stay healthy in weightlessness - and why two hours of daily exercise is a medical requirement, not a choice. They will learn about the science conducted aboard the station, from cancer cell research and protein crystal growth to Earth observation and the search for dark matter. The book covers the history of space stations from Skylab and Mir to the ISS, explains how supply ships and crew vehicles like the Soyuz and SpaceX Crew Dragon keep the station running, and looks ahead to commercial space stations, the Lunar Gateway, and the eventual journey to Mars. Written in clear, accurate language for readers ages 9 to 12, this book is an essential guide to humanity's permanent home in space.