Floating in Space (Let'S-Read-And-Find-Out Science Books)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060254327 ISBN 13: 9780060254322

Publisher: Harpercollins Childrens Books, 1998

Examines life aboard a space shuttle, describing how astronauts deal with weightlessness, how they eat and exercise, and some of the work they do

About the Author:

Franklyn M. Branley is one of the co-founders of the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series and the author of close to 150 popular books about scientific topics for young readers of all ages. He is Astronomer Emeritus and former Chairman of the American Museum-Hayden Planetarium.

Dr. Branley lives in Sag Harbor, New York.

From Kirkus Reviews:

In this Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science entry, Branley (see review, above) takes readers on a space shuttle mission, from blast-off to touchdown, but focusing mainly on life in orbit. As he points out, ``zero gravity'' is a misnomer--but only barely; so negligible is gravitational pull that astronauts temporarily grow an inch or so as their joints relax, are able to stand on the walls and ceiling, have to learn new ways to eat, sleep, and use the toilet, and must be very careful about stowing small objects before re-entry. In Kelley's cheerful watercolors, smiling space travelers--including one woman--bounce around the shuttle's cabin and suit up for extra vehicular tasks while back on Earth, a young girl eagerly tracks the flight on television. While in the claim that heavy equipment--even the 12-ton Hubble telescope--can be lifted in space, Branley oversimplifies the effects of inertia and momentum, his choice of detail about conditions in space will surprise and delight readers. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.