Spacewalks: how astronauts step into the Universe

This children’s article, Spacewalks: how astronauts step into the Universe, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children build vocabulary, learn about how spacewalks work, and discover why they matter for science. Written by Mark Pulley, a teacher and writer who creates fun and informative news articles for English learners.

The first spacewalk

On the 18th of March 1965, Russian astronaut Alexei Leonov did something no human had ever done before. He opened the hatch of his spacecraft, pushed himself outside, and floated in open space. For 12 minutes, he drifted above Earth, held only by a thin safety line. It was brave, it was risky, and it was the start of a brand-new chapter in space exploration.

Leonov’s spacewalk was far from easy. His spacesuit became over-inflated, making it stiff and difficult to control. He could not get back inside the spacecraft until he cleverly released some air from the suit. It was a dangerous decision, but it worked, and he survived the world’s first spacewalk.

Why astronauts do spacewalks

Spacewalks, also called extravehicular activities, are important because astronauts often need to work outside their spacecraft. Sometimes they repair satellites. Sometimes they clean or mend parts of the International Space Station, and they also install scientific instruments or test new equipment.

Spacewalks allow humans to explore places robots cannot reach and to understand how the human body reacts to being outside in the vacuum of space.

How spacewalks have changed

In the early days of space travel, spacewalks were short and extremely risky. Today astronauts can stay outside for more than six hours, thanks to safer suits, better life-support systems, and improved tools.

Modern spacesuits are like tiny spaceships. They provide oxygen, remove carbon dioxide, protect from floating debris, and even control temperature. The gloves are designed so astronauts can turn tiny screws or operate tools while floating hundreds of kilometres above Earth on the International Space Station.

Spacewalks have also become team efforts. Astronauts inside the station guide those outside, and mission control teams on Earth watch closely and give instructions. It is a huge group project, stretching from space all the way down to the ground.

Training for a walk in space

Astronauts train for years before they ever try a spacewalk. They practise inside a giant swimming pool called the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, where the water helps them feel weightless. They wear full spacesuits and work on underwater copies of space equipment. 

Nowadays, astronauts also train in virtual reality, where they learn how to move safely, use their tools, and deal with emergencies. Every movement must be slow and careful, because one wrong push can send an astronaut drifting away.

Spacewalks remain one of the most difficult and exciting parts of space exploration. They allow humans to repair spacecraft, carry out experiments, and prepare for future missions to the Moon and Mars. Without them, we would know far less about space and how to live in it.

You can watch a full video of a spacewalk here on YouTube.

Article vocabulary list

• Extravehicular: Happening outside a spacecraft.
• Hatch: A small door or opening in a spacecraft.
• Vacuum: Space with no air at all.
• Over-inflated: Filled with too much air.
• Life-support system: Equipment that keeps someone alive.
• Debris: Small broken pieces of objects.
• Temperature: How hot or cold something is.
• Mission control: The team on Earth that guides astronauts.
• Neutral: Having no weight or force in one direction.
• Emergency: A dangerous situation that needs quick action.

Comprehension questions

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