Escape Pod 202: Will You Be an Astronaut?
Will You Be an Astronaut?
By Greg van Eekhout
Astronauts are people who ride rockets into space. They must train for a very long time before they go. Astronauts must be brave and smart.
Will you be an astronaut?
The biggest rocket ever was the Saturn V. On the launch pad it was taller than a 30-story building. Today’s rockets are smaller and lighter. Today’s rockets can be launched more than once. They have wings and can come back to earth and land like airplanes.
When a rocket launches, it’s like an earthquake. The ground is shaking! There is flame and smoke. It’s like an explosion!
Antonio is strapped into his seat. He is about to ride to a space station. Because there is no air in space, Antonio must wear a space suit. In the suit, Antonio can breathe and talk over radio. He wears a helmet with a special faceplate that protects him from the sun. The fingers of his gloves have tiny claws that help him work with small objects.
What’s all that noise? It must be a rocket! Astronauts are traveling to space!
5-4-3-2-1! Lift off!
About the Author
Greg van Eekhout
Greg van Eekhout is a novelist of science fiction and fantasy for audiences ranging from adult to middle grade. His work has been selected as finalists for the Sunshine State Award, the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy, and the Nebula Award. His novels include Cog, Voyage of the Dogs, and the California Bones trilogy. He’s also published about two-dozen short stories, several of which have appeared in year’s best anthologies. He lives with his wife and dogs in San Diego, California, where he enjoys beach walks and tacos.
About the Narrator
Christiana Ellis
Christiana Ellis is an award-winning writer and podcaster, currently living in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her podcast novel, Nina Kimberly the Merciless was both an inaugural nominee for the 2006 Parsec Award for Best Speculative Fiction: Long Form, as well as a finalist for a 2006 Podcast Peer Award. Nina Kimberly the Merciless is available in print from Dragon Moon Press. Christiana is also the writer, producer and star of Space Casey, a 10-part audiodrama miniseries which won the Gold Mark Time Award for Best Science Fiction Audio Production by the American Society for Science Fiction Audio and the 2008 Parsec Award for Best Science Fiction Audio Drama. In between major projects, Christiana is also the creator and talent of many other podcast productions including Talking About Survivor, Hey, Want to Watch a Movie? and Christiana’s Shallow Thoughts.
