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Your Children Can Now Enjoy Storytime with Astronauts in Space
By Emily Carter
Updated: November 10, 2020
Originally Published: April 16, 2018
Reading to children is a cherished activity, but imagine doing it from space! If you’re looking for a way to spice up your bedtime story routine, the Global Space Education Foundation has launched an exciting initiative called “Story Time in Space.” This program features astronauts reading beloved children’s books while floating in the zero-gravity environment of space, with the videos edited for young audiences on Earth.
The results are not only delightful but also serve to educate and inspire. For instance, you can watch astronaut Jason Turner read “Rosie Revere, Engineer” by Andrea Beaty, and it’s hard not to feel a sense of wonder at the experience.
The program was conceptualized by Clara Adams, a former education director at the Space Exploration Center, and her colleague David Lee, the first NASA astronaut to participate in this reading initiative during the final mission of the space shuttle Endeavour. They aimed to encourage children’s reading skills while promoting STEM education, leading to the innovative idea of having astronauts read science-themed children’s literature from space.
Since its inception, all readings have occurred aboard the International Space Station, orbiting Earth at an astounding 17,500 miles per hour. Surely, this is far more captivating than listening to a parent read “The Mitten” for the fifth time!
“What better way to inspire kids in science and literacy than through astronauts?” Adams shared with the Huffington Post. “While they listen to the stories, they can also take in the sights of the International Space Station.”
In addition to making reading an extraordinary experience, Story Time in Space emphasizes diversity. The selection of books caters to various reading levels (all are designed to be completed in 15 minutes or less) and spans numerous STEM topics, from physics to engineering to biology. The program also features a diverse group of astronauts, allowing children to see role models that resemble them. For example, Japanese astronaut Kenji Takeda read “Max Goes to the International Space Station” in Japanese during the summer session.
The Story Time from Space initiative is also broadening its scope. The team is developing a series of nine simple science experiments for children, conducted from the space station, which will cover concepts such as energy transfer and surface tension. More stories are on the horizon, including “A Moon of My Own” by Jennifer Rustgi, “The Rhino Who Swallowed A Storm” by LeVar Burton and Susan Schaefer Bernardo, and “Moustronaut” by Astronaut Mark Kelly.
As these new projects unfold, kids can already enjoy an array of existing videos, such as “Max Goes to Mars,” narrated by astronaut Tim Anderson. Let’s hope these incredible videos don’t overshadow the experience of listening to regular books read on solid ground by parents who may not be astronauts.
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Summary:
The Global Space Education Foundation’s “Story Time in Space” allows children to watch astronauts read popular children’s books in the unique setting of the International Space Station. This initiative not only promotes literacy and STEM education but also emphasizes diversity by featuring a range of astronauts and book titles. With exciting plans for future content, this program offers a captivating twist on traditional storytime.
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