Living and Working in Space
A Day in the Life Aboard the International Space Station offers articles and videos about the astronauts' daily routines.
Living in Space - This NASA site offers children ages 6–10 information on what it is like for astronauts in space. It discusses in an easy-to-read style everyday issues that we deal with on Earth such as exercise, personal hygiene, and chores.
The Thinkquest Astronaut site is comprised of features on life on the shuttle and station, weightlessness, web-based activities, quizzes and more. Good information site for ages 7 and up.
PBS's Space Station site provides in-depth features on sanitation in orbit, recreation and sleeping, eating in space, life in microgravity and more. Appropriate for ages 8 and up.
Nutritional Biochemistry: Kids' Zone
Download some fantastic space nutrition newsletters and experiments designed for children ages 8–13. Newsletters present current research, games, activities, fun facts, and more. Experiments investigate how what we eat influences our bodies and health — on Earth and in space!
High Living - Great site for ages 10 and older. Features consist of space sickness, bodily effects, osteoporosis, radiation effects, breathing in space and more.
Science News for Kids provides articles on diet and nutrition in space, as well as other health aspects related to space flight. Appropriate for kids ages 9–14.
Weightlessness Demonstration outlines facilitator steps to illustrate the effects of free fall using cups and water. This Windows to the Universe® activity is appropriate for ages 10–18.
The Space Daily web site provides articles on radiation, diet and nutrition in space, as well as other health aspects related to space flight. Appropriate for all children 12 and older.
Space Medicine - For ages 12 and older, this site has information on space medicine, physiological changes in space, and health care for astronauts. It also includes information on radiation effects and countermeasures.
Life in Space - Discovery presents a site that explores what it is like to live and work on the International Space Station. Images, interviews with the astronauts, and interactive activities make this a good site for explorers of all ages.
The National Space Biomedical Research Institute researches several areas of human physiology and spaceflight. The site, for ages 16 and older, presents an overview of different research programs and examines the benefits of this research to human health on Earth as well as in space.
All the latest International Space Station (ISS) news is presented on this site, along with other information about NASA's ISS program.
Kids and adults will enjoy a succinct answer to the classic question, "How do you go to the bathroom in space?" Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield's explanation is available on Universe Today.
Building Space Colonies
Introduction - Living in Space is a good introduction site to living in space. Older children will find the information interesting and can explore the idea of space tourism. It emphasizes long and short duration space living, exercise, radiation, and working in space.
Space Day - This site includes challenges to children to design colonies, instruments, and support for other human aspects of space exploration. News, events, discussion boards, materials, and resources are presented to enable children and educators to celebrate Space Day!
Artist Pat Rawlings creates images of colonies on Mars and the Moon, as well as a variety of space exploration and research subjects. This is a great site for sparking imagination!
Mars Image Gallery - This site provides images of what a colony on Mars might look like. It includes pictures and animations of transportation vehicles, bases, and research.
Gravity and Microgravity
How Stuff Works explores what weightlessness is and how it impacts the human body. For children ages 12 and beyond.
What is Microgravity? - Children ages 15 and older learn about microgravity and why it happens.
American Museum of Natural History's Science Website for Kids – Articles, activities, images, and other interactive sources of information are provided on a variety of science topics. There is an article to explore what would happen if gravity could be "turned off!" For children ages 8–13.
Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum explores the amazing world beyond the visible! Text and images introduce electromagnetic waves, where they come from, how they behave, and how scientists use them. In addition to the website, a book is available for download as a PDF, and there is a companion video. Appropriate for ages 12 and up.
Spaceflight Radiation Health Program at JSC is an informative site on spaceflight radiation for ages 12 and up. It incorporates the environmental challenges of radiation exposure, with radiation protection, research development and crew exposure monitoring. It also contains a nice piece on the exploration of the moon and Mars.
The Aerospace Corporation Magazine's website provides an overview of the space radiation environment. For older children and adults.
Salud, familia! Latino Children's Wellness Program provides free health and nutrition information through bilingual children's books, which are available to download as PDFs.
Kidshealth discusses several different topics regarding children's health issues. Kids can learn how to be fit, how to eat nutritiously, and lots of pertinent facts about health. This site is appropriate for ages 8 and up.
August 20, 2013