Grade 6
Earth Science
- Meteorology Updated! – How do we forecast the weather? What are some of the more complicated tools we use? What is an anemometer? A rain gauge? What is meteorology?[slides] Click here for a good NASA video on Meteorology basics for the Mission Team Members [video]
- Asteroids and Meteorites – What is an asteroid? What is a meteor? How about a meteorite? Learn the difference and what happens when a meteor moving tens of thousands of miles per hour hits our planet. Check out this explosive lesson plan. Make sure you borrow our Meteorite Collection for your Mission Team. Order well in advance. Check out this seven minute on asteroids by Bill Nye “The Science Guy”.
Engineering
- Solar Power Updated!- Solar Power use on the International Space Station. [slides]
- Space Colony – How is a Space Colony constructed? Structures and habitats: shielding, food, logistics, production, in-situ survival strategies. This eight minute NASA video provides Mission Team Leaders good background on the Space Colonies.
Rocketry
- Principles of Rocket Flight Updated!- What makes a rocket stable in flight? How do we apply Newton’s Laws to rockets?
- Payload Integration – What kinds of payloads do rockets carry? What effect does the payload have on the rocket? How is it integrated? [slides]
Space Citizenship
- History of Manned Space Flight Updated!- The history of the cold war space race. [card game]
- Space Business – Understand the business of commercial space ventures and their role in society: remote sensing, telecommunications, Position, Navigation, Timing, and tourism.[slides]
Space Science
- Living with the Sun – What is the Sun? What is its effect on earth?
- Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Updated!- Life in the Universe? How about our galaxy? What would do when/if we make contact? How can we make first contact? What role can you play? Check out this five minute History Channel video on the Search For Extra Terrestrial Intelligence.
Grade 7
Earth Science
- Rocks and Minerals Updated!- An understanding of how rocks and minerals are formed. What are the processes involved? What are the different types of rock formations? How does the study of rocks help us to understand the Earth itself?
- The Global Positioning System – Updated! What is this system and how does it work? How is this system used to improve lives? How can this system be used to improve our awareness of our planet? [slides]
Engineering
- Advanced Robotics – How are robots used to explore space? How can they enhance human efforts? What factors influence design? What promise does future technology hold?
- Sky Island – What do you need to build a city in space? How can you survive in different environments in Outer Space? What kind of considerations would you plan for? Consider power, industrial production, food, science, and entertainment. [slides]
Rocketry
- Rocket Propulsion – What types of fuel do we use with rocket propulsion? What is the difference in use and application? What are the dangers in usage? REQUEST TAPE
- Rocket Design and Nose Cones – Learn some of the principles of rocket design. How are wind tunnels used to test rockets and airplanes? What is the impact of nose cone shape on rocket flight? What is the concept of drag?
Space Citizenship
- Space and the Media – A look at how scientific and Space endeavors are portrayed in the Media. How should we educate the citizenry through the information mediums?
- Careers in Space – An overview of the Space industry and insight into the types of careers available.
Space Science
- Forces of the Universe Updated!- Strong and weak nuclear Electro mag. gravity, dark energy.
- Once Upon a Big Bang – The evolution and future of the universe.
Grade 8
Earth Science
- Remote Sensing – What is Remote Sensing? How do we use it to sense and monitor the environment? An understanding of the use of satellite and airborne remote sensing technology. [slides]
- Imagery Analysis – An introduction to Imaging. How do we use images from EarthKam (or space and aircraft) to give us detailed analysis of the Earth?
Engineering
- Radio Communications – How does the Space Program use Communication systems? What impact does time delay have? Wave propagation. [slides]
- Deep Space Communications Network Updated!- What is NASA’s deep space communications network? How is it used to communicate with spacecraft?[slides] This four minute NASA video provides Mission Team Leaders good background on the DSN
Rocketry
- Advanced Model Rocketry – Build advanced model rocketry. Apply rocket staging and scientific experiment.
- Altitude Tracking – What is altitude tracking? Why is it important? Mathematical concepts Build model basic rocketry basic. Learn National Association of Rocketry safety standards.
Space Citizenship
- Philosophy of Space Exploration – Investigation into why humanity seeks to explore space. Review of history. What is our place in the universe?
- Space Agencies – A study of the history of European, Russian, and other space agencies; their respective roles in expanding humanity’s knowledge of the cosmos.
Space Science
- Learn to Observe – Learn to observe the solar system and much more. Use planetary observational techniques, scientific notation, Universal Time, etc.
- Great Life Cycle of a Star – How stars form and die. The types of stars and their characteristics. Learn the characteristics of stars and build a spectrograph to analyze light.