edHelper.com
Transportation

The Nosy Space Ship

The Nosy Space Ship
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 7 to 9
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   8.57

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    nosy, celestial, launched, spaceship, atmosphere, human-made, orbit, spaceships, presence, rockets, solar, scientist, purpose, launch, travels, remote
     content words:    United States, Voyager Space Probe, Mars Express Probe

Print The Nosy Space Ship
edHelper.com subscriber options:
     Print The Nosy Space Ship  (font options, pick words for additional puzzles, and more)
     Quickly print reading comprehension
     Print a proofreading activity

Feedback on The Nosy Space Ship
     Leave your feedback on The Nosy Space Ship  (use this link if you found an error in the story)

The Nosy Space Ship
By Trista L. Pollard 		  
1     Out there beyond the stars, glides the "nosy spaceship." It sends back information as it passes by planets, flies next to asteroids, and journeys into black holes. The real name for this vehicle is a space probe. Space probes are vehicles that only carry scientific instruments. The purpose of these vehicles is to explore our solar system. Rockets launch space probes into space. Once in space, the probe still has enough energy to travel around the universe.
 
2     Space probes have radio transmitters and computers. The probe sends information to the control station on earth. Scientists at the control station study the information and control the probe's movement as it travels through space. Imagine a scientist on earth at the control center using a probe "remote control" that programs its every move. These vehicles can be controlled even when they are millions of miles away from earth. They can be programmed to orbit planets, land instrument packages onto planet surfaces, and fly closely to planets and other celestial bodies.
 
3     Space probes also carry radiometers, magnetometers, and television cameras. Radiometers help to measure small amounts of radiant energy. Magnetometers are used to help measure the presence of magnetic fields or magnetic materials. The television cameras help take pictures of planets and other celestial bodies that have been orbited by the probe. Scientists may take months or years to study information from probes. Probes have helped scientists to learn valuable information about our universe.

Paragraphs 4 to 5:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable
Copyright © 2008 edHelper