This is a activity about applying the scientific method to a design challenge. Learners will design and build a platform that will be placed on a heat source. The platform is expected to serve as an insulator for a cube of gelatin. The goal is to... (View More) keep the inside temperature of the gelatin cube as cool as possible. Materials cost will vary, depending on materials chosen by group (within budget set by the teacher). Ties are made to the Mercury MESSENGER mission. Note: the student guide starts on p. 17 of the PDF. (View Less)

This is an article about detecting gravitational waves. Learners can read about how the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) is detecting gravitational waves. An activity is included about how to build a mini-LISA and use it to explore the... (View More) technology behind the instrument. (View Less)

This is a poster about the Deep Space Network. Learners can read about the network of dishes that recieve signals from space, space related careers, complete an activity about a mathematical model of how the Deep Space Network antennas work and how... (View More) the antennas concentrate electromagnetic radio waves in a single direction. (View Less)

This is a lesson about elemental abundance in solar wind. Learners will count elements extracted from a simulated sample and learn how the extraction of atoms from the Genesis samples help scientists have a better understanding of the abundances of... (View More) elements from the solar wind. The hands-on experience helps students to discover that the elemental abundances from the sun can be used as a baseline to compare with the diverse bodies of our solar system. (View Less)

This is a lesson about elemental abundance in solar wind. Learners will simulate the extraction of elements from the Genesis wafers by counting elements extracted from a simulated sample. This will help them learn how the Genesis samples help... (View More) scientists have a better understanding of the abundances of elements from the solar wind - and how they can be used as a baseline to compare with the diverse bodies of our solar system. (View Less)

This is a book about the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn. Learners may read about what is involved in sending a large spacecraft to the outer solar system. One chapter explains the mission, another the spacecraft. Other chapters tell about Saturn,... (View More) Titan, the rings and the various other parts of the Saturn system. These chapters reflect the facts and theories as we knew them prior to mission arrival. In addition to information about the Cassini mission to Saturn, they can also learn about the Huygens atmospheric probe of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, to see if there are really liquid hydrocarbons on Titan’s surface in the form of lakes or seas. (View Less)

This is a lithograph about Mars. It contains an image of mars on the front and informational text about the way the Hubble telescope is being used to study the weather on Marson the back.