Exploring the Solar System: Design, Build, Test activity

TYPE: Short Activities
AUDIENCE: Ages 4 - Adult
TOPIC: Engineering and Technology
In this activity, learners will imagine, draw, and build their own simple model spacecraft. Then they will place the model through a series of tests.
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DESCRIPTION

In "Exploring the Solar System: Design, Build, Test," participants will imagine a scientific mission to space, draw inspiration from existing spacecraft, and then design and build their own simple model spacecraft to accomplish the goals of their mission. After assembling a spacecraft and attaching tools, participants' creations will have to complete a series of tests to ensure that they're ready for launch. Did they include the necessary tools? Can the spacecraft withstand the vibration of launch, or the spin of navigating through space? If not, it's back to the drawing board—the design/build/test cycle begins again!

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  • learners assemble their space craft models
  • Facilitator and learner test the spacecraft model on the shake table
  • Facilitator and learner strap the spacecraft model to the spin table
  • Facilitators and learners watch as a spacecraft model undergoes the shake test
  • learners assemble their space craft models
  • Facilitator and learner test the spacecraft model on the shake table
  • Facilitator and learner strap the spacecraft model to the spin table
  • Facilitators and learners watch as a spacecraft model undergoes the shake test

DESCRIPTION

In "Exploring the Solar System: Design, Build, Test," participants will imagine a scientific mission to space, draw inspiration from existing spacecraft, and then design and build their own simple model spacecraft to accomplish the goals of their mission. After assembling a spacecraft and attaching tools, participants' creations will have to complete a series of tests to ensure that they're ready for launch. Did they include the necessary tools? Can the spacecraft withstand the vibration of launch, or the spin of navigating through space? If not, it's back to the drawing board—the design/build/test cycle begins again!

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TRAINING VIDEOS

OBJECTIVES

BIG IDEA

Engineering a spacecraft is part of a cycle of designing, building, and testing. A spacecraft will only be ready for its mission once its design and construction can pass a series of tests.

LEARNING GOALS

  • Scientists use spacecraft to explore Earth and space. 

    Missions to space require large teams to design, build, and test spacecraft. 

    Preparing to launch a spacecraft into space takes a lot of time. 

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TYPE:
Educational Resources
AUDIENCE:
Ages 4 - Adult
LANGUAGES:
English Spanish
ADDITIONAL TOPICS: Earth and Space Science Astronomy Earth, Moon and Sun Solar System Engineering and Technology Engineering
KIT: Explore Science: Earth & space logo Browse kit
KEYWORDS:

Credits

YEAR CREATED
2019
PROJECT
OWNING INSTITUTION

Sciencenter, Ithaca, NY

FUNDING

This material is based on work supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award numbers NNX16AC67A and 80NSSC18M0061. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

PERMISSIONS

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).
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DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

NISE Network products are developed through an iterative collaborative process that includes scientific review, peer review, and visitor evaluation in accordance with an inclusive audiences approach. Products are designed to be easily edited and adapted for different audiences under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license. To learn more, visit our Development Process page.