Space Shuttle Atlantis

Space Shuttle Atlantis Atlantis reaches the International Space Station

By Tiffany Chaparro

June 13, 2007

The U.S. space shuttle Atlantis successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday. The shuttle is delivering new equipment to the ISS, including a new solar array, or set of solar panels.

Adding different parts to the ISS is an important step to maintaining a human presence in space. On Wednesday, astronauts Steve Swanson and Patrick Forrester participated in the mission's second space walk to help with construction.

Forrester and Swanson got to work removing an old solar array to make room for the new one. The new solar array will help to provide more power for the station.

The new array will be able to follow the sun and convert sunlight into electricity for the station. It is capable of generating enough power for 10 homes!

Clayton Anderson, a member of the crew, will not return home with the rest of the Atlantis crew. Anderson will stay on the ISS for four months, taking the place of Sunita Williams. Williams, who has lived on the ISS since December, will return to Earth aboard Atlantis.

Atlantis was originally supposed to launch in March but the mission was delayed when a hailstorm caused damage to the fuel tank.

Mission Extended

NASA decided to extend the 11-day mission to 13 days to make repairs to the shuttle. During take off from the Kennedy Space Center, a four- inch section of thermal blanket—near the shuttle's tail—was torn. The thermal blanket is used to protect the shuttle from very high heat when the shuttle re-enters Earth's atmosphere.

Astronauts will likely use a special kind of sewing kit to fix the blanket. Crew members are expected to fix the tears during a space walk on Friday or Saturday. Star Speller Evan O'Dorney wins national spelling bee

Evan O'Dorney stood grinning on center stage as the crowd erupted in applause and photographers snapped his picture. But the 13-year-old hardly acted like someone who had just won the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

"My favorite things to do are math and music—the spelling is just a bunch of memorization," said Evan, who remained remarkably calm after being declared the national champ Thursday night in Washington, D.C.

Stiff Competition

A black belt in tae kwon do, Evan muscled his way through the two-day competition. Day one featured a record 286 spellers from around the world. By day two, the field had been narrowed to 59 contestants. After nine rounds, just two teens were still standing—Evan and 13- year-old Nate Gartke of Canada.

The pair dueled it out for the next two rounds, both looking like champs. Nate's time finally ran out in the 12th round, however, when he got tripped up on the word “coryza,” which is a medical term describing a serious disease.

With the title on the line, Evan returned to the podium for the 13th and final time. The second he heard pronouncer Jacques Bailly say the word, he knew he had won.

“S-E-R-R-E-F-I-N-E,” said the eighth-grader from Danville, California, who is homeschooled by his mother.

Evan won't soon forget the winning word, which is a noun that means small forceps. Not only did it secure his place in the history books, it also earned him $35,000 in cash, a $5,000 scholarship, and a $2,500 savings bond. That's quite a goodie bag of prizes for a kid who tied for 14th place in last year's competition.

A Favorite Stumbles

This year's competition wasn't without controversy. Samir Patel, making his fifth and final appearance at the spelling bee, was one of the favorites to win it all. However, he botched the word “clevis” (a type of fastening device), instead spelling it "clevice."

His mother protested Samir's early exit from the competition because of the different ways the word's final syllable could be pronounced. The judges disagreed, and it was a disappointing end to a colorful spelling-bee career for Samir. "If I had been slow and cautious like I always am, I would have got it right," said the 13-year-old Texan. "But I just outsmarted myself. It was an easy word. I just made a stupid mistake."

Evan turned in a mistake-free performance and was crowned the champ. Throughout the competition, he exhibited nerves of steel. Even as he prepared for the national title, he remained one cool customer—so cool, he squeezed in time for another one of his favorite hobbies.

"I walk around the room juggling while my mom asks me words," said Evan. Name ______ANSWER KEY______

Group Practice – “Space Shuttle Atlantis”

1. What is this article mostly about?

The Space Shuttle Atlantis docking with the International Space Station.

2. What is a solar array? What does it do?

It is a group of solar panels. It converts sunlight into electricity.

3. Why are astronauts adding parts to the International Space Station?

It is an important step to maintaining a human presence in space.

4. Why was the Atlantis mission delayed?

A hailstorm caused damage to the fuel tank.

5. Which detail is most important to the main idea of this article? A. The new solar array can generate enough electricity for ten homes. B. Sunita Williams, an astronaut, is going to leave the space station on the Atlantis. C. The Atlantis is bringing a new set of solar panels to the space station. D. Astronauts are going to use a special sewing kit to repair the thermal blanket on the Atlantis.

6. What is the main idea of the section titled “Mission Extended?”

The shuttle’s mission is being extended in order to conduct repairs on the shuttle. Individual Practice – “Star Speller”

Directions: Read the article “Star Speller.” Complete Part I on your own. After everyone has finished Part I, you will be paired with another student. Complete Part II with your partner.

Part I

1. Summarize the main idea of this article in 1-2 complete sentences.

2. List the five most important supporting details for this article, in your own words and in complete sentences.

Part II

1. Compare your summary of the main idea with your partner’s. Discuss both of your answers and work together to write a summary of the main idea that you both agree on in the space below.

2. Compare your list of the five most important supporting details with your partner’s. Discuss both of your lists and work together to write a list that you both agree on in the space below.