1. FUTURE JOBS READERS
Level 3-②
Space Pilots

2. What does a space pilot do?
Space Travel
Stars and planets in space
What does a space pilot do?
A space pilot travels to space in a spacecraft. These days, space pilots are called astronauts. These are the men and women exploring space today.

3. Working in Space What do astronauts do in space?
An astronaut in space
What do astronauts do in space?
The International Space Station
What is the longest time an astronaut has spent in space?
Astronauts study the objects in space. They also do experiments that can help us on Earth. Astronauts have to test the machines inside the space station. They make sure everything is safe in the space station, too.
The longest time a person has stayed in space is 879 days. Astronauts usually stay in space for six months.

4. Other Jobs for Astronauts
What do astronauts do when they are not in space?
A control center that helps people work with astronauts
When astronauts are not in space, they work in an office. They . . .
write reports.
go to meetings.
study how to control robots and machines used in space.
help plan spacewalks.
What is a spacewalk?
Taking a spacewalk
Going outside is called “taking a spacewalk.” When the astronauts go on spacewalks, they fix things on satellites, test new machines, and do experiments.

5. Countries That Build Spacecraft
How many people around the world have traveled to space?
Less than 600 people in the world have ever traveled to space. Only three countries have built spacecraft that sent people to space. These countries are the USA, Russia, and China.

6. Space Pilots and Astronauts
An airline pilot
Is a space pilot the same as an astronaut?
No, a space pilot is a little different than an astronaut. As it becomes easier to fly to space, space pilots will be able to fly visitors to space for research, work, and maybe even vacations. Space pilots will be more like today's airline pilots.

7. Becoming a Space Pilot
How can a person become a space pilot?
In university, a person can study engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or math.
Pilots practicing to fly
Astronauts training in a pool
What else does one have to do to become a space pilot?
After university, space pilots need to get experience flying jets. Space pilots can have experience as airline pilots, fighter pilots, or test pilots. They should practice for at least 1,000 hours. They should also have training for fixing things and handling emergencies in space.

8. Space Tourism Who might space pilots work for?
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo
Who might space pilots work for?
A pilot and passengers
A few companies are preparing to take tourists on space trips in the near future. Virgin Galactic is the world’s first spaceline.
A spacecraft that Virgin Galactic plans to use to take people into space
Does Virgin Galactic have any spacecraft now?
Yes, it does. One spacecraft it has is named SpaceShipTwo. Two pilots will fly SpaceShipTwo. This spacecraft can take two pilots along with six other passengers to space.

9. Other Jobs for Space Pilots
A spaceport training class
A space pilot teaching space tourists about space travel
Do space pilots do more than just fly spacecraft?
Yes, they do. Space pilots will need to teach space tourists and train them for space travel at spaceports. They will help passengers learn basic emergency skills for their space travel. In addition, space pilots will be like tour guides for the passengers. They will help tourists with any questions they have about space.

10. Vocabulary airline n. astronaut n.
a company that operates flights across a country or between countries
astronaut n.
a person who works in a spaceship or spacecraft

11. Vocabulary biological science n. phr. emergency n.
the study of living things and their life processes
emergency n.
a serious situation

12. Vocabulary passenger n. satellite n.
a person who rides in a car, bus, train, plane, etc.
satellite n.
a spacecraft that circles a planet to gather and report information to Earth

13. Vocabulary spacecraft n. spaceline n.
a vehicle that travels to outer space
spaceline n.
a company that operates flights into space in the same way airlines operate flights between countries