Who hasn’t gazed up into the night sky, smiled at the Man in the Moon and wondered what it would be like to visit?
It’s likely been a pastime since humans first populated our planet.
Fast forward to recent years and man’s actual flights into outer space. On May 3rd, 1961 Astronaut Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. became the first American in space aboard Freedom 7 Space capsule. This brief suborbital flight lasted 15 minutes and reached a height of 116 miles into the atmosphere.
Arguably, the most renowned astronaut in history was Neil Armstrong. He made history by becoming the first person to set foot on the moon in 1969, an event that was televised around the world.
Other early space travelers, between 1961 and 1962, were Russian cosmonauts Yuri Gagarin and German Tito, and Americans Alan Shepard and John Glenn.
To mark these achievements, Lockheed Martin Corp. designated the first Friday in May National Space Day as a one-day event.
By 2001, due to the popularity of National Space Day, Senator John Glen, a former astronaut, was responsible for it being renamed International Space Day.
The dual goal of the observance is to promote math, science, technology, and engineering education and to inspire student to pursue a career in science, especially a career in space-related jobs.
Looking for a way to celebrate the accomplishments to date and encourage young people to learn more? For starters:
— Build a model rocket and launch it.
— Look for the International Space Station as it orbits the Earth.
— Share your favorite space pictures online using #NationalSpaceDay
Also, consider these recent books for young readers:
—How to Eat in Space, a picture book written by Helen Taylor and illustrated by Steve Lewis for ages 6 to 8. It addresses the challenges of how to eat when food floats. 
— Knowledge Encyclopedia Space! Computer-generated illustrations reveal the wonders of the universe published by The Smithsonian. Recommended for ages 6 to10. 
— The Mysteries of the Universe: Discover the best-kept secrets of space. Written by Will Gates and Daniel Long for ages five and older. 
Marilyn Ostermiller is a journalist who specializes in writing for children.
Darlene Beck-Jacobson 
Fun!