From The Space Library
KIDS TO SPACE - A SPACE TRAVELER’S GUIDE
“I think the future in space will be very successful. Once everyone, including children, reads the Kids to Space guide, the kids especially will want to travel to space.” Paige Stephens, age 14, Black Butte, Oregon
By
Lonnie Jones Schorer - With America’s & Canada’s School Children
K2S Part 1 - Planning To Go To Space
Based on an imaginary trip to space with America's school children, Kids to Space: A Space Traveler's Guide is a comprehensive collection of children's questions about traveling to and living in space. From black holes to possible destinations, from group dynamics to weightlessness, from medical concerns to space communities, internationally recognized experts in each field provide answers to 100 different categories of student questions, making the book a fascinating space guide, not just for kids but for all who have ever wondered about the universe and dreamed of what it would be like to be a space traveler. In his foreword,
Gemini XII and
Apollo 11 Astronaut
Buzz Aldrin encourages students to take advantage of opportunities, many of which are related to future space exploration and discoveries. In a letter to teachers, Astronaut and Space Shuttle Commander Rick Searfoss lends his support, emphasizing that children's contributions are an important part of the dream. In responding to "Would YOU go to space?" students provided insight into why they would or would not personally go to space. Statistical results will be included in the book. Educators throughout the US who participated in the Kids to Space project were excited to get the kids thinking about tomorrow. Students, ages 5-18, were excited to be asked to participate in planning for humankind's future in space. The experts, including astronauts, educators, astronomers, doctors, engineers, scientists and architects were excited to be challenged, and sometimes stumped, by the questions. Sometimes they had to readjust their ideas of what they thought they knew in order to answer some of the students' questions. Hundreds of student illustrations, brilliant depictions of what it would be like to live in or travel to space, will be included on an accompanying CD/ROM. From science fiction to accessible reality, Kids to Space: A Space Traveler's Guide serves as a timely message to children that the space future is in their hands, and we welcome their help in planning for it now.
