Extreme Exploration -- Solar System Missions Timeline Activity
Objectives:
Students will:
- Make observations, collect data, and make simulated mission decisions as they depict robotic exploration.
- Identify planetary bodies in our solar system that are mission targets.
- Research solar system missions.
- Create a visual display of solar system bodies and related missions.
National Science Standards Addressed:
- Unifying concepts and processes in science: Evidence, models, and explanation
- Science as Inquiry: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
- History and Nature of Science: Science as a human endeavor, Nature of science
Suggested Grade Level:
5-8 (with adaptations K-12)
Lesson Length:
- Activity One - 45 minutes - more if associated with Internet research
- Activity Two - 40 minutes to one hour - more if extensive written or oral reports are assigned
Background:
Right now, the most advanced scientific space fleet ever assembled is out there in our solar system hammering away at life's biggest - and toughest - questions: Where do we come from? Where are we going? Are we alone?
"The natural excitement scientists feel in their continued exploration of the solar system reaches a crescendo over the next three years," explains Dr. Ellis Miner, a planetary scientist. "Never before have so many different spacecraft
been poised to probe so many mysteries about so many different solar system bodies over such a short time span."
Clues to these mysteries are scattered among the nine planets and the multitude of moons, comets and asteroids that make up our solar system. Evidence of the earliest days of the solar system may exist in rocks on the cratered surfaces of Mercury, Mars and Earth's moon. Chemical clues to our origins may linger in the icy hearts of comets and distant Kuiper Belt objects or in the hazy atmosphere of Saturn's giant moon, Titan. A few of Jupiter's moons may even harbor oceans under their icy crusts.
Just as the robotic spacecraft of the 1960s pioneered a safe path for astronauts to walk on the Moon, today's advanced robotic explorers are charting a course that will take humanity back to the Moon and beyond.
It won't be easy. These exploring machines must endure extreme heat and cold and intense radiation during long journeys across mind-boggling distances. Even at speeds up to 80,400 kph (50,000 mph), a one-way ride to Pluto takes about nine and a half years. If all goes well - and there are no guarantees in space travel - we will be among the first humans to see Pluto up close. We will have to wait until NASA's New Horizons spacecraft arrives at Pluto in 2016 for that particular view.
Fortunately, there's plenty to do - and to see - in the meantime.
About this lesson:
This lesson contains two activities that allow students to depict, research and follow along with NASA's exciting missions to other planetary bodies in our solar system.
In the first activity, Strange New Planet, students enact the missions that reflect the sequence NASA uses to robotically explore solar system bodies. Students view unusual planets in the classroom using ordinary cardboard tubes that simulate telescopes. They plan missions to examine these planets. Students will gather new information as they simulate fly-by, orbit, lander, and sample return missions. This activity demonstrates how planetary features are discovered and researched using remote sensing techniques.
The second activity, Extreme Exploration -- Solar System Exploration Missions with Timeline, involves students in the wide range of mission events of 2003-2006. Using the Solar System Exploration Timeline 2003-2006 poster as a guide, student teams will research assigned missions and record events such as launch and landing, etc. They will be drawn into the mission events as they follow along with Solar System Exploration.
The class will place images of solar system bodies on a large bulletin board or wall. After researching the missions, teams will place appropriate symbols by the planetary body where the events will take place (example: a rocket = launch or a ring = orbit). Oral and/or written reports can reinforce the experience.
Vocabulary list:
Launch, fly-bys, swingby, orbits, probes, encounters, landers, and sample returns.
Materials List:
(see each activity)
Activity 1: Strange New Planet
Students enact the missions that reflect the sequence NASA uses to robotically explore solar system bodies. Students view unusual planets in the classroom using ordinary cardboard tubes that simulate telescopes. They plan missions to
examine these planets. Students will gather new information as they enact flyby, orbit, lander, and sample return missions. This activity demonstrates how planetary features are discovered and researched using remote sensing techniques.
The complete activity can be downloaded and printed at http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/educ/docs/Strange_New_Planet.pdf
Note ** Addendum to Strange New Planet
Mission 4: Sample Return (future Mars Sample Return mission)
Using the data collected by the previous missions and especially the lander missions, each team will decide on an appropriate sample return site and sampling technique. One sample per team is all that is allowed and remember the sample is going to be small, definitely no bigger than a small pinch! Examine the sample and complete your reports.
Activity 2: Extreme Exploration--Solar System Exploration Mission Timeline
Extreme Exploration -- Solar System Exploration Missions Timeline, involves students in the wide range of mission events of 2003-2006. Using the Solar System Exploration Timeline 2003-2004 poster as a guide, student teams will research assigned missions and record events such as launch and landing, etc. They will be drawn into the excitement of mission events as they follow along with Solar System Exploration.
The class will place images of solar system bodies on a large bulletin board or wall. After researching the missions, teams will place appropriate symbols by the planetary body where the events will take place (example: a rocket = launch
or a ring = orbit). Oral and/or written reports could enhance and reinforce the experience.
Objectives
Students will:
- Identify planetary bodies in our solar system that are mission targets.
- Research solar system missions.
- Create a visual display of solar system bodies and related missions
Lesson Length:
45 minutes - more if extensive written or oral reports are assigned. Unit or semester projects could be planned around this Solar System Exploration theme if desired.
Materials List:
- Images of eight planets, Sun, Earth's moon, Jupiter's moons, comets, asteroids
- Resource: Solar System Lithograph Set for Space Science, NASA Educational Product number LS-2001-08-002-HQ.
Images may be downloaded from this NASA Spacelink site: http://spacelink.nasa.gov/Instructional.Materials/NASA.Educational.Products/Solar.System.Lithograph.Set/Solar.System.Lithograph.Set.pdf
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/index.cfm
- Colored or construction paper for mission symbols, different color for each
- Mission Event Symbols template for mission symbols (found at the end of this activity)
- Scissors
- Markers or pens
- Solar System Exploration Timeline 2003-2006 http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/
- Mission Events Student Sheets (at least one for every student - more if needed)
- Tape or mounting material to attach display to wall or bulletin board
Advanced Preparation:
1. Read all parts of the lesson and decide how much time will be allotted to the activity. There are many ways a teacher could decide to do this activity involving students in as much or as little of the preparation as desired. Determine what parts the students will do and what parts the teacher will do prior to the activity time. An example is whether students
will download images of planets, if students will create their own images of the planets, or the teacher will provide images. Note that this could be a much longer unit or semester project if desired.
2. Determine if students will do research on the missions to planets and other solar system bodies or if the information included below will be given to the students to transfer to the event mission symbols. Mission event research by individuals or teams will require Internet computer access.
3. Assemble materials.
4. Preview the Solar System Exploration Timeline 2003-2006 found on the website. Print if desired.
5. Determine assignments for posting mission events on the Solar System display. See Possible Team Research Assignments page at the end of this procedure. Students may copy events from the listing provided in this lesson or they may research the missions on the NASA websites to find the events themselves. The Solar System Exploration Mission Events by Planetary Body listing is found at the end of the lesson.
6. Copy Mission Events Student Sheets
Classroom Procedure:
1. Introduce the Solar System Exploration Timeline 2003-2006 and invite the students to research and follow along as we explore our solar system. Read or allow the students to read the Join the Adventure information found on the back of the Timeline.
2. Explain to the students that they will make a display of Solar System Mission Events using symbols to depict the various types of mission events. They will post exploration symbols for each mission event on the wall near the planet or solar system body where the event has or will take place. Launches always take place here on Earth but the launch symbol (rocket) should be placed near the target body. The rocket for a launch to Mars will be near the image of Mars.
3. Review types of mission events (flyby, orbit, probe, lander, rover, sample return) and indicate the symbol that represents each type of event.
4. Assign student teams (2-4 students per team) to specific solar system bodies (see list below entitled Possible Team Research Assignments).
5. Hand out Mission Events Student Sheets to each student. Students may request more sheets if they are representing several missions.
6. Instruct students to use the Solar System Exploration Timeline to find the events related to their assigned planetary body. Have students note the events on the Mission Events Student Sheets. If students use the Timeline only then proceed to step 7 below. Consider the options below to extend this lesson.
- Students may investigate events on the internet.
- Students may use the Solar System Exploration Mission Events by Planetary Body pages provided at the end of the lesson.
- Students may present oral or written reports on mission events, planetary bodies, or scientists or engineers involved in planetary missions.
7. Instruct each team to transfer the mission event data to symbols that represent the events. Indicate to students where the construction paper and symbol templates will be available.
8. Facilitate the construction of the planetary display and the posting of their results in the form of annotated symbols.
9. Allow student teams to report their findings to the class.
Assessments:
1. Use or develop a rubric to assess the oral or written reports.
2. Assess the individual Mission Events Student Sheets.
Mission Events Student Sheet
Student Name: ______________________________
Mission:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
What is the planetary body that is the target of this mission?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mission Website:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Launch Date:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
List the Mission Events and dates. Describe each event.
What is this mission exploring?
What are the science questions? There are many science and technology goals on a single mission. For complete information, you can research on-line.
What do you think? What are your questions?
What were the results? Attach news articles and make notes as you hear news of this mission.
Possible Team Research Assignments
Classroom Strategy Suggestions for teams or groups.
The list below is a suggestion on how the research and mission events could be evenly distributed to teams in a typical classroom. Another strategy could be to have each student take an individual mission.
| Team 1 | Mercury | 1 | 7 |
| Team 2 | Sun, Venus, Moon | 3 | 6 or 7 |
| Team 3 | Mars | 5 (past and present) | 11 major events |
| Team 4 | Mars | 5 (future) | 10 |
| Team 5 | Asteroids
Jupiter | 2
2 | 8
4 |
| Team 6 | Saturn | 1 | 6 |
| Team 7 | Uranus, Neptune, Pluto | 2 | 6 |
| Team 8 | Comets | 3 | 8 |
For the latest information on solar system exploration missions, visit: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions
Solar System Exploration Timeline
Solar System Exploration Missions
