Lexile
Sentence Length
Word Count
1020
14.70
397
Fifty years ago this week, Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova made
history by becoming the first woman in space. Since then, other women
have followed the trail she blazed—and more are on the way. Recently
NASA, the U.S. space agency, selected eight new astronauts—half of
them female. This is NASA’s first new class of ___________ in four years,
and it features the agency’s highest-ever percentage of women.
Tereshkova flew into space on June 16, 1963, on the three-day Vostok 6
mission. It took place just two years after another Russian cosmonaut, Yuri
Gagarin, achieved the first piloted __________ in 1961.
A textile worker from a modest family, Tereshkova became interested in
parachuting at a young age. Her experience in _________ jumping led to
her being recruited as a cosmonaut by the Russian government.
Tereshkova and four other women were part of the first all-female
cosmonaut training group in 1961, but only Tereshkova ever completed a
___________.
Tereshkova became an instant celebrity upon returning to Earth. She has
received many __________ and honors since her flight. Today, she serves
in the Russian government.
After Tereshkova’s landmark mission, it would take another 20 years for
the United States to send a _________ into space. Astronaut Sally Ride
became the first female American astronaut to leave Earth on June 18,
1983. Since then, a total of 57 women from nine different countries have
blasted off.
Two women are currently in orbit. NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg is aboard
the International Space Station. Last week, China sent its second-ever
female astronaut, Wang Yaping, to work on its orbiting space module.
However, Tereshkova remains the only woman to complete a __________
flight.
In recent years, NASA has run into trouble with funding. Currently, there
are no American __________ that can carry humans to space. However,
this new class of astronaut candidates suggests that NASA is looking
ahead to the future of _________ exploration. The group includes the first
female fighter pilot to become an astronaut in almost two decades, as well
as a female helicopter pilot.
The class will begin _________ in August. “They’re excited about the
science we’re doing on the International Space Station and our plan to . . .
[go] there on spacecraft built by American companies,” said NASA
Administrator Charles Bolden in a statement. “And they’re ready to help
lead the first human mission to an asteroid and then on to Mars.”
http://www.timeforkids.com/news/women-flying-high/96531
Astronauts
Awards
Flight
Parachute
Solo
Space
Spacecraft
Spaceflight
Training
Woman
Lexile
Sentence Length
Word Count
1020
14.70
397
Fifty years ago this week, Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova made
history by becoming the first woman in space. Since then, other women
have followed the trail she blazed—and more are on the way. On Monday,
NASA, the U.S. space agency, selected eight new astronauts—half of
them female. This is NASA’s first new class of astronauts in four years, and
it features the agency’s highest-ever percentage of women.
Tereshkova flew into space on June 16, 1963, on the three-day Vostok 6
mission. It took place just two years after another Russian cosmonaut, Yuri
Gagarin, achieved the first piloted spaceflight in 1961.
A textile worker from a modest family, Tereshkova became interested in
parachuting at a young age. Her experience in parachute jumping led to
her being recruited as a cosmonaut by the Russian government.
Tereshkova and four other women were part of the first all-female
cosmonaut training group in 1961, but only Tereshkova ever completed a
flight.
Tereshkova became an instant celebrity upon returning to Earth. She has
received many awards and honors since her flight. Today, she serves in
the Russian government.
After Tereshkova’s landmark mission, it would take another 20 years for
the United States to send a woman into space. Astronaut Sally Ride
became the first female American astronaut to leave Earth on June 18,
1983. Since then, a total of 57 women from nine different countries have
blasted off.
Two women are currently in orbit. NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg is aboard
the International Space Station. Last week, China sent its second-ever
female astronaut, Wang Yaping, to work on its orbiting space module.
However, Tereshkova remains the only woman to complete a solo flight.
In recent years, NASA has run into trouble with funding. Currently, there
are no American spacecraft that can carry humans to space. However, this
new class of astronaut candidates suggests that NASA is looking ahead to
the future of space exploration. The group includes the first female fighter
pilot to become an astronaut in almost two decades, as well as a female
helicopter pilot.
The class will begin training in August. “They’re excited about the science
we’re doing on the International Space Station and our plan to . . . [go]
there on spacecraft built by American companies,” said NASA
Administrator Charles Bolden in a statement. “And they’re ready to help
lead the first human mission to an asteroid and then on to Mars.”
http://www.timeforkids.com/news/women-flying-high/96531