Branley's picture book discusses life aboard a space shuttle. Since gravity in space is very weak, the weightless astronauts must learn to maneuver everyday activities in different ways. The cheerful ink-and-watercolor artwork shows the astronauts as they live in near zero gravity (standing on walls and ceilings, drinking spherical globs of orange juice) and as they work (donning space suits and maneuvering huge replacement pieces of the Hubble Space Telescope into place). Clearly labeled illustrations show the parts of a space suit, the arrangements for food, and the waste collection system (the shuttle toilet). The last few pages trace reentry and landing procedures. Written with an eye toward what interests children and what will make sense to them, this engaging book welcomes young people aboard the space shuttle for an eye-opening first trip. (Reviewed December 1, 1997)

Descriptions of how astronauts live and work on the space shuttle include the repair of the Hubble Space Telescope as well as the basics of eating and sleeping in space. Simple yet thorough explanations of gravity and weightlessness frame the otherwise descriptive text. The color illustrations include clearly labeled diagrams of space suits, space toilets, and meal trays.

In this Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science entry, Branley (see review, above) takes readers on a space shuttle mission, from blast-off to touchdown, but focusing mainly on life in orbit. As he points out, ``zero gravity'' is a misnomer—but only barely; so negligible is gravitational pull that astronauts temporarily grow an inch or so as their joints relax, are able to stand on the walls and ceiling, have to learn new ways to eat, sleep, and use the toilet, and must be very careful about stowing small objects before re-entry. In Kelley's cheerful watercolors, smiling space travelers—including one woman—bounce around the shuttle's cabin and suit up for extra vehicular tasks while back on Earth, a young girl eagerly tracks the flight on television. While in the claim that heavy equipment—even the 12-ton Hubble telescope—can be lifted in space, Branley oversimplifies the effects of inertia and momentum, his choice of detail about conditions in space will surprise and delight readers. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)"