The Invention of the Space Shuttle

An illustrated inventions story from Wonder Inventions — free to read, with narration.

The Invention of the Space Shuttle — an illustrated inventions story, set in Global. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

The Invention of the Space Shuttle — book cover — Wonder Inventions
The Invention of the Space Shuttle — an illustrated inventions story, set in Global. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

Page 1

Kiran shivered, pulling his parka tighter. "It's freezing here, Uncle Dimitri! What are we even doing at the edge of the world?" Dimitri chuckled, pointing…
Kiran shivered, pulling his parka tighter. "It's freezing here, Uncle Dimitri! What are we even doing at the edge of the world?" Dimitri chuckled, pointing towards a research station in the distance. "Patience, little cosmonaut. They're studying the aurora borealis, and I promised to show you. I've got special clearance to visit the research facility because I help them fix the equipment."

Kiran shivered, pulling his parka tighter. "It's freezing here, Uncle Dimitri! What are we even doing at the edge of the world?" Dimitri chuckled, pointing towards a research station in the distance. "Patience, little cosmonaut. They're studying the aurora borealis, and I promised to show you. I've got special clearance to visit the research facility because I help them fix the equipment."

Page 2

Inside the warm research station, Tara, a scientist with rosy cheeks, handed Kiran a steaming mug. "Careful, it's hot chocolate," she said with a smile.
Inside the warm research station, Tara, a scientist with rosy cheeks, handed Kiran a steaming mug. "Careful, it's hot chocolate," she said with a smile. "Dmitri tells me you're interested in space?" Kiran nodded eagerly, taking a sip. "I want to know everything!" he exclaimed. "Like, how do we even get to space? It's so cool! Who even invented... spaceships?"

Inside the warm research station, Tara, a scientist with rosy cheeks, handed Kiran a steaming mug. "Careful, it's hot chocolate," she said with a smile. "Dmitri tells me you're interested in space?" Kiran nodded eagerly, taking a sip. "I want to know everything!" he exclaimed. "Like, how do we even get to space? It's so cool! Who even invented... spaceships?"

Page 3

"Well, it wasn't one inventor," Tara explained, adjusting her glasses. "It was a whole lot of brilliant minds working together over decades.
"Well, it wasn't one inventor," Tara explained, adjusting her glasses. "It was a whole lot of brilliant minds working together over decades. People dreamed about reusable space transport for ages. Jump into the past, and you'll get to see it!" Kiran's eyes lit up. He rushed to his backpack, pulled out his leather-bound Invention Encyclopedia, and opened it. A swirling vortex of light filled the room.

"Well, it wasn't one inventor," Tara explained, adjusting her glasses. "It was a whole lot of brilliant minds working together over decades. People dreamed about reusable space transport for ages. Jump into the past, and you'll get to see it!" Kiran's eyes lit up. He rushed to his backpack, pulled out his leather-bound Invention Encyclopedia, and opened it. A swirling vortex of light filled the room.

Page 4

Kiran gasped, finding himself standing on a dusty runway in California, 1977. A massive spacecraft, the Space Shuttle Enterprise, sat before him.
Kiran gasped, finding himself standing on a dusty runway in California, 1977. A massive spacecraft, the Space Shuttle Enterprise, sat before him. "Whoa!" he exclaimed. A man in a white coat approached. "Welcome to Edwards Air Force Base! I'm John Young, one of the astronauts testing this beauty."

Kiran gasped, finding himself standing on a dusty runway in California, 1977. A massive spacecraft, the Space Shuttle Enterprise, sat before him. "Whoa!" he exclaimed. A man in a white coat approached. "Welcome to Edwards Air Force Base! I'm John Young, one of the astronauts testing this beauty."

Page 5

"This is incredible!" Kiran said. "But... it doesn't look like a rocket." John chuckled. "That's the genius of it! It's reusable.
"This is incredible!" Kiran said. "But... it doesn't look like a rocket." John chuckled. "That's the genius of it! It's reusable. We launch it like a rocket, but it lands like an airplane. The first Space Shuttle mission, STS-1, launched on April 12, 1981. That's when Columbia took to the skies!"

"This is incredible!" Kiran said. "But... it doesn't look like a rocket." John chuckled. "That's the genius of it! It's reusable. We launch it like a rocket, but it lands like an airplane. The first Space Shuttle mission, STS-1, launched on April 12, 1981. That's when Columbia took to the skies!"

Page 6

\"Reusable? How does that save money?\" Kiran asked. \"A lot!\" John replied. \"Each shuttle cost about \ 450 million. NASA estimated each launch at \ 10…
\"Reusable? How does that save money?\" Kiran asked. \"A lot!\" John replied. \"Each shuttle cost about \ 450 million. NASA estimated each launch at \ 10 million in fuel but recovering and reusing saves a lot of money. The Space Shuttle program's total cost over thirty years was about \ 200 billion, which is enormous, but it propelled space science and our understanding of Earth.\"

\"Reusable? How does that save money?\" Kiran asked. \"A lot!\" John replied. \"Each shuttle cost about \ 450 million. NASA estimated each launch at \ 10 million in fuel but recovering and reusing saves a lot of money. The Space Shuttle program's total cost over thirty years was about \ 200 billion, which is enormous, but it propelled space science and our understanding of Earth.\"

Page 7

"There were setbacks, of course," John said, his voice turning somber. "The Challenger and Columbia disasters... those were devastating.
"There were setbacks, of course," John said, his voice turning somber. "The Challenger and Columbia disasters... those were devastating. But we learned from them, always striving to improve safety. As the great Isaac Newton said, 'If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.' Every success builds on the work of those who came before."

"There were setbacks, of course," John said, his voice turning somber. "The Challenger and Columbia disasters... those were devastating. But we learned from them, always striving to improve safety. As the great Isaac Newton said, 'If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.' Every success builds on the work of those who came before."

Page 8

Suddenly, the runway began to shimmer. "Looks like your ride's here!" John said with a wink. "Remember, Kiran, space exploration is about pushing boundaries and…
Suddenly, the runway began to shimmer. "Looks like your ride's here!" John said with a wink. "Remember, Kiran, space exploration is about pushing boundaries and seeking knowledge." With a flash of light, Kiran found himself back in the Arctic research station. Tara smiled. "So, what did you learn?"

Suddenly, the runway began to shimmer. "Looks like your ride's here!" John said with a wink. "Remember, Kiran, space exploration is about pushing boundaries and seeking knowledge." With a flash of light, Kiran found himself back in the Arctic research station. Tara smiled. "So, what did you learn?"

Page 9

"That it took tons of people to invent reusable rockets that could fly people to space!" Kiran replied, his eyes shining.
"That it took tons of people to invent reusable rockets that could fly people to space!" Kiran replied, his eyes shining. "And that even with failures, we keep learning and trying. I want to help build the next generation of spaceships!"

"That it took tons of people to invent reusable rockets that could fly people to space!" Kiran replied, his eyes shining. "And that even with failures, we keep learning and trying. I want to help build the next generation of spaceships!"

Page 10

Back in the tundra outside, Kiran looked up at the aurora. "Space isn't just far away," he said. "It's connected to everything we do, even here." Dmitri smiled.
Back in the tundra outside, Kiran looked up at the aurora. "Space isn't just far away," he said. "It's connected to everything we do, even here." Dmitri smiled. "Exactly! And who knows, maybe one day you'll be the one showing me around a space station!"

Back in the tundra outside, Kiran looked up at the aurora. "Space isn't just far away," he said. "It's connected to everything we do, even here." Dmitri smiled. "Exactly! And who knows, maybe one day you'll be the one showing me around a space station!"

About this story

  • Location: Global
  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

Questions and answers

Questions and answers about The Invention of the Space Shuttle

Read Wonder Inventions on your phone

Wonder Inventions is available on Android. Get Wonder Inventions on Google Play.

More Wonder Inventions stories

All Wonder Inventions stories · Open the library