Space & NASA Gifts | Top Gifts for Budding Astronauts

3… 2... 1… Blast off. The countdown to blastoff is the most exciting moment when launching a rocket. After months, if not years of preparation, it’s the crucial moment. Will the launch be successful like Saturn V that went to the moon? Or will it explode like the SpaceX Falcon 9 in 2016? Success or failure, rocket launches are exhilarating. As homage to the countdown, the following info that’s great to know when making space activities for kids, is presented in a countdown fashion, from 10 to 1. But in this case, you know it’s guaranteed to be a success. So let’s get started with the key information about space, starting with 10 historical space facts.

10 Historical Space Facts

Space activities for kids should include teaching them about the Space Race. Here’s 10 Monumental Space Moments leading to the first man on the moon.

> In 1942 the German V2 was the first rocket to reach 100km from the Earth’s surface (the boundary of space).
> In 1947, the first animals were launched into space. Fruit flies were used to study the effects of space travel on animals. They were chosen because they are more similar to humans than you might imagine!
> Albert II, was the first monkey in space. He was a Rhesus monkey, a type of monkey that originally comes from Asia.
> On 4th October 1957, Russia launched the first satellite into space; Sputnik 1, and the space age had properly begun!
> In November 1957, the Russian space dog Laika became the first animal to orbit the earth.
> By 1959 Both American and Russian scientists were in a race to get a spacecraft to the Moon; the Russians made it first.
> On 12th April 1961, Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space. Gagarin's spacecraft, Vostok 1, completed one orbit of the earth, and landed about two hours after launch.
> The first woman in space was Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova in 1963.
> In 1963 US President John F. Kennedy promised the world that the US would land men on the moon before 1970.
> True to Kennedy’s pledge, Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to walk on the moon, July 20, 1969.

9 Great Space Gifts

Space activities for kids must include gifts that will fire their imagination about space travel. Here’s a few galactically awesome suggestions:

> Space Projector Night Light
> Space Pinball Games
> NASA T-shirt
> Astronaut Quilt Doona
> Night Sky Projection Kit
> Space 3D Puzzle Kits
> Space Posters
> Solar Robot Kits
> Space Cookie Cutters

8 Greatest Space Movies of All Time

Couch, popcorn, space movie. Space activities don’t get any better because it brings the family as close together as astronauts in a space station. Here’s eight super movies that cater to all ages and tastes.

> 2001: A Space Odyssey - 1968
> Alien - 1979
> Blade Runner - 1982
> Star Wars: Episode 1V - 1977
> E.T. the Extra Terrestrial - 1982
> Close Encounters of the Third Kind - 1977
> Avatar - 2009
> Interstellar - 2014

7 Super Star Wars Gifts

If you love space then you love Star Wars. Space activities for kids that include Star Wars gifts will encourage them to play space hero. Here’s 7 awesome Star Wars gifts.

> A Dark Sabre Light sword
> Star Wars KeyRing and Bottle Opener
> Jedi poncho
> R2-D2 Cookie Jar
> Action Figures
> An Alarm Clock
> Darth Vader DoorMat

6 Gifts To Wow The Whovian

Here’re 6 fantastic Dr. Who gifts that will get your kids well and truly on the way to becoming a devoted Whovian just like you.

> Tardis teapot
> Dalek egg cups
> Tardis coffee mug
> Sonic Screwdriver
> Tardis cookie jar
> Doctor Who necklace

5 Facts On The Future Of SpaceX

Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX is right at the cutting edge. And SpaceX will be taking passengers into space in the near future. Perhaps even your kids. Here’re what he’s achieved to date:

> June 2002: Musk founded SpaceX, with the intention of decreasing the cost and increasing the accessibility of space travel.
> December 8, 2010: The Dragon, an unmanned craft developed by SpaceX, is the first spacecraft owned by a privately owned company to orbit and return to earth.
> May 25, 2012: The Dragon makes history as the first private capsule to connect to the International Space Station (ISS) and deliver more than 1,000 pounds of cargo.
> April 8, 2016: For the first time, SpaceX lands its Falcon 9 rocket on a drone ship.
> March 30, 2017: SpaceX launches a used rocket. This is the first time in the history of spaceflight that the same rocket has been used on two separate missions to orbit.

4 Super Space Reads

Tuck them under their moon and stars doona, turn on the spaceship bedside light. And then fuel their imagination. Here’re four great space reads for kids

> First Big Book of Space
> The Darkest Dark
> Mousetronaut
> The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System

3 Three of the Greatest Heroes of All Time

The three astronauts on Apollo 11’s mission which put the first two men on the moon were:

> Neil Armstrong
> Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin
> Michael Collins

2 Two Fun Space Activities For Kids

> Night Sky Projection Kit.
> Curiosity Mars Rover 3D Puzzle.

1 One Sentence That Will Last For Eternity

“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon, July 20, 1969.

Space activities for kids can be the launching pad for a lifetime of learning, interest, and joy. Buy them space gifts, watch space movies, teach them about all things space, read space bedtime stories and discover great space activities for kids to do together.