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In this kinesthetic activity, students will demonstrate how two spacecraft are able to document a space weather event across the Van Allen radiation belts better than one spacecraft can. Students will graph the data collected by one spacecraft and... (View More) by two spacecraft during a space weather event; compare and contrast the graphical data from one spacecraft and from two spacecraft collected during a space weather event; and explain that space weather events can change from time-to-time and place-to-place across the Van Allen radiation belts, which is why it is helpful to observe them from two spacecraft simultaneously. Includes background science information, student handouts and data collection sheets, teacher answer key, and suggested extensions and adaptations for students with vision or hearing impairments. (View Less)
In this activity, teams of learners will model how scientists and engineers design and build spacecraft to collect, store, and transmit data to Earth. Teams will design a system to store and transmit topographic data of the Moon and then analyze... (View More) that data and compare it to data collected by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. (View Less)
Learners will explore spacecraft radio communications concepts, including the speed of light and the time-delay for signals sent to and from spacecraft. Learners measure the time it takes for a radio signal to travel to a spacecraft using the speed... (View More) of light, demonstrate the delay in radio communication signals to and from a spacecraft, and devise unique solutions to the radio-signal-delay problem. In an extension, learners are asked to calculate the distance the spacecraft traveled. All NASA spacecraft missions have a telecommunications system and use radio waves to transmit signals. The context for this activity is sending a command to the New Horizons spacecraft telling it to take a picture of Pluto. Includes teacher background, adaptations, and student data sheets. (View Less)
This is an activity about mission planning. Learners will use the roles of a navigation team, spacecraft, comet, Earth, and Sun to simulate how mission planners design a spacecraft/comet rendezvous. This activity requires at least four active... (View More) participants and a large open space. Includes mathematics extensions. (View Less)
This is a lesson about spacecraft communication. Learners will explore the concepts of "signal" and "noise" by listening to a computer-generated signal from two different distances with no additional background noise, and then with background noise,... (View More) and compare their experiences in a science journal page. (View Less)
This is a lesson about programming and communications in space exploration. Learners will simulate sending commands to operate a robotic arm to complete a task. This is lesson 13 of 16 in the MarsBots robotics learning module.
This is a lesson about solar system exploration. Learners will understand that combining information gathered by a variety of robots gives us a more comprehensive understanding of our solar system. Learners will explore a planet made up of a... (View More) combination of materials while simulating the perspective of different missions: pre-launch reconnaissance, fly-by, orbit, and landing. Learners will record and share their observations. Requires the book "Seven Blind Mice" by Ed Young. This is lesson 8 of 16 in the MarsBots learning module. This lesson is adapted from "Strange New Planet," an activity in the "Mars Activity Book." (View Less)
In this activity, learners work in teams to construct specific components of a model of the High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (HESSI) spacecraft. Afterwards, the teams make presentations on the results of their effort. Note: HESSI is now named... (View More) the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager, or RHESSI. NOTE: The HESSI mission was renamed RRHESSI (Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscope Imager) after Dr. Reuven Ramaty, who was the original Co-Investigator for this NASA mission, and was a pioneer in the fields of solar physics, gamma-ray astronomy, nuclear astrophysics, and cosmic rays. (View Less)
Highly productive commercial agriculture, known as industrial agriculture, is the focus of this investigation. Students will analyze and compare the inputs and outputs of industrial agriculture after reading background information, examining photos... (View More) and satellite images, graphing data, and answering questions. The role of technology in shaping industrial agriculture is also examined. Suggestions are offered for optionally assessing this lesson in a debate format or in a role-play format. The URL opens to the investigation directory, with links to teacher and student materials, lesson extensions, resources, teaching tips, and assessment strategies. This is Investigation 2 of three found in the Grades 9-12 Module 2 of Mission Geography. The Mission Geography curriculum integrates data and images from NASA missions with the National Geography Standards. Each of the three investigations in Module 2, while related, can be done independently. (View Less)
The use or abuse of the Chesapeake Bay is examined and discussed in the form of a student role-playing activity. Each student gathers relevant background information and formulates questions from briefing cards included in the investigation. Ten... (View More) students assume character roles: each is provided with biographical information, a list of answers to potential questions and a list of points to be made during their testimony. Each character must also prepare a supplemental visual (Landsat image, map, graph, photo, diagram). Following the role-play, the class must make a policy recommendation for improving the Chesapeake Bay. The URL opens to the investigation directory, with links to teacher and student materials, lesson extensions, resources, teaching tips, and assessment strategies. This is Investigation 1 of four found in the Grades 9-12 Module 1 of Mission Geography. The Mission Geography curriculum integrates data and images from NASA missions with the National Geography Standards. Each of the four investigations in Module 1, while related, can be done independently. (View Less)