Hatch for Spacewalking — for 5-year-olds

Hi! A hatch is a special door astronauts use to go outside their spaceship to do a spacewalk. The hatch is part of an airlock — a little room that can change the air so the outside door can open safely.

How it works — step by step

1. Put on your space suit. It is like a big, puffy coat that gives you air and keeps you warm.
2. Go into the airlock and close the inner hatch (the inside door).
3. The airlock makes the air go away little by little so the outside door can open without letting all the spaceship air out.
4. Open the outer hatch (the outside door) and step outside. Astronauts stay attached with a tether like a leash so they do not float away.
5. Do the work (fix things or take pictures) and talk to friends by radio.
6. When done, go back inside, close the outer hatch, let the air come back in, open the inner hatch, and take off your suit. You are home!

Safety things

• The suit gives air, keeps the astronaut warm, and protects from tiny rocks and sunlight.
• The tether keeps them from drifting away.
• Astronauts practice a lot on Earth before they do a real spacewalk.

Fun idea

Play pretend: make a little "airlock" with a blanket over a chair. Pretend to put on a big coat, close the door (hold your hands together), count to five while you "let the air out," then open the outside flap and float around like an astronaut!