International Space Station Quiz

2. When completed, the International Space Station will be big enough to accommodate:

• 7 people.
  Bingo. The interior habitat will be equal to the interior volume of a 747 jumbo jet and will house up to seven people. When completed, the space station will cover an area equal to a football field.
• 15 people.
  Close, but not quite that many. The interior habitat will be equal to the interior volume of a 747 jumbo jet and will house up to seven people. When completed, the space station will cover an area equal to a football field.
• 20 people.
  Close, but not quite that many. The interior habitat will be equal to the interior volume of a 747 jumbo jet and will house up to seven people. When completed, the space station will cover an area equal to a football field.

3. What type of power will the Space Station run on?

• Solar and chemical power.
  Absolutely. Yep, the good old photoelectric effect, (solar power, baby!) and chemical power in the form of batteries. The solar arrays extending from the ISS will rotate to face the sun. The solar array surface area is 27,000 square feet, or more than half an acre. The batteries, lined up end-to-end, will measure 2,900 feet, more than + mile long.
• Nuclear power.
  Nope. It's going to be solar power (the good old photoelectric effect) and chemical power in the form of batteries. The solar arrays extending from the ISS will rotate to face the sun. The solar array surface area is 27,000 square feet, or more than half an acre. The batteries, lined up end-to-end, will measure 2,900 feet, more than + mile long.
• Hydraulic power.
  Nope. It's going to be solar power (the good old photoelectric effect) and chemical power in the form of batteries. The solar arrays extending from the ISS will rotate to face the sun. The solar array surface area is 27,000 square feet, or more than half an acre. The batteries, lined up end-to-end, will measure 2,900 feet, more than + mile long.

4. Which of the following will experts NOT be doing on the space station?

• Growing a vegetable garden.
  Nope, believe it or not, there are indeed plans to grow food up there. But as far as we know, this is not an opportunity to learn about time travel.

  Experts will be learning even more about the absence of gravity and its effect on human physiology, and will be developing edible products for long-term space travel. Before we earthlings can even think about traveling to Mars, we've got to find ways to make astronauts more self-sufficient for their supply of food, water, and oxygen.

• Investigating time travel.
  Bingo! Time travel is not on the agenda. Instead, experts will be learning even more about the absence of gravity and its effect on human physiology, and will be developing edible products for long term space travel. Before we earthlings can even think about traveling to Mars, we've got to find ways to make astronauts more self-sufficient for their supply of food, water, and oxygen.
• Conducting research in human physiology.
  Nope, there are definite plans to learn more about the human body. But as far as we know, this is not an opportunity to learn about time travel.

  Experts will be learning even more about the absence of gravity and its effect on human physiology, and will be developing edible products for long term space travel. Before we earthlings can even think about traveling to Mars, we've got to find ways to make astronauts more self-sufficient for their supply of food, water, and oxygen.

5. Which rule, well known to most kids, will all space-walkers on this project live by?

• No snacks before dinner.
  Nope. Those space-walkers will be using the old buddy system. They will venture out from their shuttles in pairs so that they can help each other. Experts estimate that there will be over 160 space walks required to assemble the space station.

  Each space-walker will wear a special suit known as an EMU: Extravehicular mobility/maneuvering unit. The EMU is very protective, down to the fingertip heaters, and "one size fits all." The other major protective equipment for the space-walkers is the jetpack life jacket. If an astronaut accidentally becomes untethered from the base, this foldaway device will prevent him or her from becoming lost in space.

• Close the door behind you.
  Nope. Those space-walkers will be using the old buddy system. They will venture out from their shuttles in pairs so that they can help each other. Experts estimate that there will be over 160 space walks required to assemble the space station.

  Each space-walker will wear a special suit known as an EMU: Extravehicular mobility/maneuvering unit. The EMU is very protective, down to the fingertip heaters, and "one size fits all." The other major protective equipment for the space-walkers is the jetpack life jacket. If an astronaut accidentally becomes untethered from the base, this foldaway device will prevent him or her from becoming lost in space.

• Use the buddy system.
  Bingo! Those space-walkers will be using the old buddy system. They will venture out from their shuttles in pairs so that they can help each other. Experts estimate that there will be over 160 space walks required to assemble the space station.

  Each space-walker will wear a special suit known as an EMU: Extravehicular mobility/maneuvering unit. The EMU is very protective, down to the fingertip heaters, and "one size fits all." The other major protective equipment for the space-walkers is the jetpack life jacket. If an astronaut accidentally becomes untethered from the base, this foldaway device will prevent him or her from becoming lost in space.