Have you ever dreamed of traveling in space? For many kids, staring at the stars leads to daydreams about what it would be like to be an astronaut. Just think about how amazing it would be to set foot on the moon or another planet!
Although it sounds like it would be great fun to travel to outer space, it would be a lot of work, too. Traveling to outer space needs lots and lots of preparation.
Once you are in space, nothing can come on board the ship and nothing can go out. You must take all you need into outer space to keep yourself alive. Let's call these things "inputs", including food, water and oxygen. Every input creates an output. If you open a box of cookies for breakfast, what will you do with the box when it's empty? Every piece of rubbish you create in space will remain on the ship with you. Your body will also output food and water. Since nothing can leave the spaceship, you will have to think of another way to deal with these bodily wastes.
Even breathing creates an output carbon dioxide(二氧化碳)! It's true that plants depend on carbon dioxide in the same way humans depend on oxygen to breathe. However, plants have other input needs. If you take a banana tree with you, you will need to bring enough water to keep it alive. You must also consider another type of output rubbish in the ship after taking the fruit as snacks-the banana peel.
See how carefully you have to plan for a trip to outer space? How can you plan your actions on earth to have the least influence on the environment and your future? Not only do you have to think about all the things you'll need, you will also have to consider the influence of those things because of the wastes they may create.