Ailynn Collins - Alien Lockdown

Michael Dahl has written about werewolves, magicians, and superheroes. He loves funny books, scary books, and mysterious books. Every Michael Dahl Presents book is chosen by Michael himself and written by an author he loves. The books are about favorite subjects like monster aliens, haunted houses, farting pigs, or magical powers that go haywire.

Going up? I mean way, way up? In the future, space elevators might be one easy method for bringing humans and cargo from Earths surface to orbiting space stations and back again.

A long, tough cable would stretch from an anchor point on Earth to an object in space called a counterweight. The counterweight would hold up the cable and need to be at least 22,000 miles (35,400 kilometers) above our planets surface! The most expensive part of traveling into space with rockets is buying the fuel. But the car of the elevator wouldnt need fuel. Itd travel along the cable, powered by rechargeable electromagnetic motors.

The elevator cars would reach speeds of hundreds of miles an hour. Even at that speed, the trip into space could take several days. Cars would need to be built to withstand being hit by small meteorites. They would also carry their own oxygen supply.

What if there was a storm on Earth? Would it rip the elevator cable to shreds? Not if it was built on the equator. Scientists say the equator is a fairly storm-free area, and that no hurricanes have ever crossed it. Hmm... theres a first time for everything!

(AYR LOK) a room between two airtight doors that you use to go between areas of different pressure (KOR-i-dohr) a hall with rooms on each side (DAHK) to join two spacecrafts together in space (DROHN) an aircraft with no people aboard that is controlled by remote or computers (ig-ZIB-uht) a display that includes objects and information to teach people about a certain subject (HOL-uh-gram) a special type of image that looks solid and real, and is created with laser light (LOK-down) an emergency situation where people are not allowed to enter or leave an area (PRAY) an animal hunted by another animal for food (PUHSS) a yellowish-white fluid that is made when the body or a wound becomes infected (SPAYS WAHK) a period of time during which an astronaut is in space to do work outside of the spacecraft

Ailynn Collins was born in England and has lived all over the world. Her love of learning has earned her a law degree, Montessori teaching credentials, and an MFA in writing for children from Hamline University. She authored the Redworld series and enjoys creating new worlds and all kinds of aliens. When not writing, Collins likes to work with her four furry kids in dog shows and competitions, or she stays home to read, often reading several books at once. She lives near Seattle, Washington.

Juan Calle is a former biologist turned science illustrator, trained at the Science Illustration program at California State University, Monterey Bay. Early on in his illustration career, he worked on field guides of plants and animals native to his country of origin, Colombia. Now he owns and works in his art studio, LIBERUM DONUM, creating concept art, storyboards, and his passion: comic books.

The space elevator lobby was packed. People were standing in long lines for tickets. Groups of tourists huddled together as they waited for their guides to lead the way to the pods.

Yin Nova and her fifth-grade classmates, wearing matching school uniforms, sat against a wall. They watched returning passengers step out from the launch bays. Yins legs couldnt stop bouncing up and down. She had been dreaming of this day for a long time.

Her friend Sam was less excited. You know its Friday the thirteenth today, right? Sam moaned. Its the unluckiest day of the year. And not a good day for a class field trip to space.

Yin laughed. Her best friend could find the negative in any situation. Lighten up, Sam!

Yeah, you know thats just a silly belief, said Priya, the third in their best friend trio.

I know what will get you excited, Yin said, pulling Sam to her feet. Priya followed behind.

Yin led her friends to a display of giant photos on the opposite wall of the lobby. When the three came to a stop, the photos began to shimmer and grow. The images turned into 3-D .

Yin pointed to one. Look at it. International Space Station Three, she said. The station was built like a long stick with seven rings balancing along its length.

The ISS 3 is bigger than the two older space stations put together, Yin continued. And today, we get to go aboard the real thing.

Yeah, the museum were going to is right here, Priya added. She pointed to the third ring. It has the largest collection of space artifacts in the world.

You mean space junk, Sam said, frowning. They just collect the stuff our ancestors threw away in space and call it artifacts.

Maybe. But we dont care about that, Yin said. She touched the hologram and focused in on one room in the museum. This is what we are going to space for.

The girls stared at the hologram. The room Yin had pointed out held the most exciting. It had been the talk of people around Earth for the past year.

The first alien plant life ever found, Yin whispered in awe. Do you know what this means?

Sam crossed her arms. That itll turn into a monster and eat us all, ending life on Earth?

No, Sam, Priya said, patting her friend on the back. Scientists studied the plants before they opened the exhibit. Its perfectly safe.

Yin stared at the tiny image of the glass cabinet that held the plant. Just think. A team of astronauts was exploring a large rock in space. They think it broke off from an actual planet far out there somewhere.

And on that rock, Priya continued, they found this plantLilidae Spatium Efloupos. Otherwise known as the Star Cabbage.

Thats a stupid name, Sam muttered.

Yins eyes widened with wonder. Finding the plant means there could be another world where humans can live.

Oh, so now that weve ruined our home, we can just give up on Earth and ruin another planet? Sam said.

Wow, Sam, thats a terrible thing to say, Yin said. How can you

Yin was going to keep arguing, but their teacher, Mr. Olu, whistled to get the class attention. All twelve of his fifth graders returned to the wall. In his hands, the teacher held a box.

As a special treat, Mr. Olu said, grinning, the gift shop has given us free ice pops.