International Space Station Lesson for Kids

Astronauts conduct some very cool research on the ISS, including studies in physics, astronomy, meteorology, and even biology. For instance, in July 2015, researchers on the ISS investigated the way that fire acts in space (they found that it burns very easily) so they can come up with effective ways to extinguish flames in emergencies. They can even collaborate with people on Earth through advanced communication tools.

When not working, astronauts need to be able to live as normally as possible. They have special space toilets and even a space garden that astronauts tend to themselves. In addition to eating food from the space garden, astronauts on the ISS receive food and other supplies (like fuel and equipment) from an Automated Transfer Vehicle designed to transfer items from Earth to space.

Astronauts also have to take time to exercise their muscles and bones. That's because the ISS is a microgravity environment, which means that people and objects are almost weightless and float around when not strapped down. In microgravity, humans don't use their bodies with the same intensity as they do on Earth, and bones and muscles tend to become smaller and weaker, making daily exercise essential. Living in microgravity also changes other parts of life. For example, astronauts need to sleep strapped in so they don't float around into each other while snoozing.

All right, let's take a second or two to review what we've learned. In this lesson, we learned that the International Space Station (ISS) is an orbiting satellite that humans made to orbit the Earth about 15-16 times per day. Remember that to orbit means to make a curved path around the Earth. Astronauts on the ISS live in a microgravity environment, which means there's almost no gravity and things that aren't strapped down can float around. Astronauts continue to live and conduct research while living in the International Space Station, and are learning new things every day.