2 6 28 ready for lift off (science)

by Ann Takman

H O UG H T O N MIF F L IN


by Ann Takman

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS: Cover © Stockbyte/Getty Images. 1 Stocktrek Images/Getty Images. 2 Atlas Photo Bank/
Photo Researchers, Inc. 3 NASA/Photo Researchers, Inc. 4 NASA. 6 NASA. 7 NASA. 8 Stocktrek Images/Getty Images.
9 NASA. 10 Stockbyte/Getty Images.
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Printed in China
ISBN-13: 978-0-547-02988-7
ISBN-10: 0-547-02988-8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 SDP 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08


This is a space shuttle.
It looks like an airplane,
but it travels in space.
Astronauts have explored space
in space shuttles since 1981.
2


Astronauts must learn how to

work in space.
They study subjects such as
astronomy and math.
They learn how to move
and live in space, too.
3


Many people help astronauts
get ready to fly.
A launch team gets the space shuttle
ready to fly.
They check the orbiter to be sure
its parts work correctly.
The orbiter carries astronauts
and equipment.
The launch team fixes any parts of
the orbiter that need repair.
4


Space Shuttle

External tank

Solid rocket booster

Solid rocket booster

Orbiter

Orbiter engines

The launch team tests and checks
the external tank.
This tank holds fuel.
The launch team tests and checks
the solid rocket boosters.
These boosters hold fuel, too.
5


A team puts together the solid rocket
boosters, the external tank, and the
orbiter to form the space shuttle.
6


The team puts very cold fuel into
the external tank.
The fuel is so cold that ice forms
on the tank.
A few hours before launch,
another team makes sure that
there isn’t too much ice on the tank.
7


Solid rocket
boosters

Orbiter engines

At liftoff, the solid rocket boosters
begin to work.
Their force helps push the shuttle
off the ground.
After about two minutes,
the boosters float back to Earth.

8


At liftoff, the orbiter engines work.
They also push the shuttle
off the ground.
They get the shuttle into space.
The engines use fuel
from the external tank.
The tank is empty after about eight
minutes, and then it falls away, too.
9


Now the orbiter can orbit Earth.
In the future, many people
may travel by space shuttle.
Maybe you will be one of them!
10

Responding
Word Builder Make
a word web around the word space. What
might you see in space? Copy this word
web and add more words.
TARGET VOCABULARY

space shuttle

?

space

?

?

Write About It
Text to Self You have just read about the
space shuttle. Would you like to fly in
one? Write a few sentences telling why or
why not. Use two words from the Word
Builder in your paragraph.

11


TARGET VOCABULARY

astronomy

explored
float
force

future
orbit
repair
space

Analyze/Evaluate Tell
how you feel about the text, and why.
TARGET STRATEGY

On the water sits a boat. It does
not sink because it can
.

12


Level: L
DRA: 24
Science
Strategy:
Monitor/Clarify
Word Count: 294

2.6.28 Build Vocabulary

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN

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