Word meanings: science 8

Mae Jemison, Astronaut

1. Mae Jemison and her six fellow crew members were strapped into their seats racing toward the stars on a giant fireball. It had been two minutes since liftoff, and they were now above the atmosphere. The rocket boosters that produced the additional thrust needed to escape Earth’s gravitational pull had burned off all of the fuel and were now separating from the shuttle. There was a single, bright flash in the window. Then the boosters plummeted toward the ocean while the Endeavour and her crew hurtled into space.
2. Jemison worked hard in school for many years pursuing her dream of becoming an astronaut. In fact, she started studying chemical engineering at Stanford University when she was only 16 years old. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she went to Cornell where she trained to be a medical doctor. And now, in just a few moments, on September 12, 1992, she would be the first African American woman in space.
3. With the rocket boosters still falling beneath them, the main engines roared and the shuttle accelerated to Mach 25, which is 25 times faster than the speed of sound. The pressure from the incredible rate of acceleration made the space travelers feel like they were being crushed in their seats until—Eureka! They reached orbit and cut the main engines. The astronauts looked around in awe. This would be their home for the next eight days. Mae knew that there was important medical research to be done—but not yet. First, she would pause and take in this spectacular moment. Mae unbuckled her seatbelt and floated like a balloon, as she stared down at the blue marble below.