المنار2001 0 Report post Posted March 20, 2005 HOME IN SPACE When you look at the sky at night, you can see a bright new star. But it is not star; it is Alpha orbits at 386 kilometers above our planet and is home for the men and women of the intnatonol space station. Angela Downing answers reader's questions about our new home in the sky. You can find out when to see alpha in your area at NASA website – http://spacefllight.nasa.gov/ station/.They can also tell you about the shuttles position. Sometimes you can see alpha and the shuttles at the same time! The station is the size of three houses of 86 square meters. It has got scientific laboratories and a living area with sleeping compartments, a toilet and kitchen with a fridge and oven .The astronauts can not watch TV but alpha have got a radio. They use the radio to talk to their friends and families on Earth alpha have got 52 computers! Alpha uses solar power. It recycles air and water and the space shuttle brings food three or four times a year. There are up to eight astronauts on alpha. They usually sleep eight hours every night in special sleeping bags. There is no gravity so they don’t need beds! There members can not have a shower on the station so they wash with wet cloths and never brush their teeth with water! Once a day, they spend thirty minutes on an exercise bike to keep fit. They have normal food but don’t have salt and pepper because it flies away! They have meals in the kitchen but don’t have to think about what to eat. The astronauts choose their food months before the trip and a computer tells them their menu for every meal in the station they wear T- shirts and trousers or shorts. But they don’t need shoes! When they go outside on space walks, they wear special space suits with oxygen and food for eight hours. Astronauts on alpha are busy . They check the scientific experiments in the laboratories and do repairs or building work. The astronauts sometimes go space walking and do work outside the station. And every day one of the crew does the housework – it is very important to keep the station clean! AL-manar2001 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
