Exploring the Universe: Pack a Space Telescope

TYPE: Short Activities
AUDIENCE: Ages 7 - Adult
TOPIC: Engineering and Technology
In this activity, learners design, build, pack, and deploy their own model space telescopes in this activity.
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DESCRIPTION

Space telescopes can offer us better, clearer views of the universe (and of our own planet) than Earth-based telescopes can, but getting these large, delicate pieces of equipment into orbit is tricky. In "Exploring the Universe: Pack a Space Telescope," participants get a taste of the challenges faced by engineers in designing and building complicated tools that can fold up to fit inside a spacecraft, and then unfold again when they deploy in orbit. Participants will design, build, pack, and deploy their own model space telescopes in this activity.

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  • Photo of the materials in Pack a Space Telescope
  • Learner shows the camera the different materials that need to be packed into the model rocket
  • Learner shows the camera their model rocket unpacking their space telescope
  • NASA image of some of the mirrors of the JamesWebb Space Telescope
  • Photo of the materials in Pack a Space Telescope
  • Learner shows the camera the different materials that need to be packed into the model rocket
  • Learner shows the camera their model rocket unpacking their space telescope
  • NASA image of some of the mirrors of the JamesWebb Space Telescope

DESCRIPTION

Space telescopes can offer us better, clearer views of the universe (and of our own planet) than Earth-based telescopes can, but getting these large, delicate pieces of equipment into orbit is tricky. In "Exploring the Universe: Pack a Space Telescope," participants get a taste of the challenges faced by engineers in designing and building complicated tools that can fold up to fit inside a spacecraft, and then unfold again when they deploy in orbit. Participants will design, build, pack, and deploy their own model space telescopes in this activity.

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TRAINING VIDEOS

OBJECTIVES

LEARNING GOALS

  • • Engineers design, build, and test new technologies to study the universe.

    • Careful planning and design help us make new discoveries and better understand Earth and space.

    • NASA teams work together to launch, guide into orbit, and operate a space telescope.

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TYPE:
Educational Resources
AUDIENCE:
Ages 7 - Adult
LANGUAGES:
English Spanish
ADDITIONAL TOPICS: Earth and Space Science Astronomy Earth, Moon and Sun Solar System Engineering and Technology Engineering Technology Physical Sciences Light and Optics Materials Science
KIT: Explore Science: Earth & space logo Browse kit
KEYWORDS:

Credits

YEAR CREATED
2018
PROJECT
OWNING INSTITUTION

The Science Museum of Minnesota

FUNDING

This material is based upon work supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AC67A. 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.