Space will always be a source of fascination for people young and old. With all of the uncertainty on Earth right now, there’s never been a better time to look up to the heavens.
Astronauts are constantly orbiting.
There are always people in orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS). It’s part of their mission to educate people, and hopefully inspire the next generation of scientists.
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It’s called Story Time From Space.
The program is designed to give kids a book to read while they’re home from school. The ISS tie-in comes in the form of various astronauts who will read along with kids back on Earth.
The program promotes STEM education.
The idea is the brainchild of Patricia Tribe (above), who worked at Space Center Houston, along with astronaut Alvin Drew. It’s all about encouraging kids to get into the STEM fields — that’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Astronaut Kathleen Rubins is taking part.
Rubins, an American microbiologist, read Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty. It’s a book with a powerful message — that scientific study isn’t a field exclusively for men.
Alvin Drew was the first astronaut to read along.
Drew was aboard the final mission of the space shuttle Discovery a few years back when he decided to try reading scientific, but kid-oriented books, to children back on Earth.
Tim Peake also took part.
Peake is a British army officer and test pilot who’s spent nearly 200 days in space. He read The Incredible Intergalactic Journey Home during his….incredible non-intergalactic journey home.
Some of the books are seriously on-point.
Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata chose Max Goes to the International Space Station while he orbited aboard the International Space Station.
Other books look to the future.
With human travel to Mars generally being seen as the next frontier in manned space missions, American astronaut Mike Hopkins decided to read Max Goes to Mars .
It’s a great example of the power of the internet.
Livestreams from near-Earth orbit have always been possible, but with the power of the internet, kids everywhere are able to keep up with astronauts in space. This wasn’t possible in past decades.
Here’s to Story Time From Space!
“What better role models to engage kids in science and to engage them in reading?” asked Patricia Tribe. “You’re not only looking and listening to the books, you’re looking around the International Space Station!”
