Space Travel Activity
Space Travel for Rare Earth Elements
NASA explores outer-space to answer questions such as “Where did we come from?”, “Are we alone?”, and “What is our destiny?” Additionally, NASA has discovered that asteroids, meteoroids, and other solar system bodies that are rich in natural resources and rare earth elements that are extremely important to us on Earth. It is possible that the rare earth elements we need may be mined in outer space. This is a problem-based learning activity where students will complete the following tasks:
Students will present using google docs, prezi, or PowerPoint their final presentations to a panel of experts and answer follow up questions.
NASA explores outer-space to answer questions such as “Where did we come from?”, “Are we alone?”, and “What is our destiny?” Additionally, NASA has discovered that asteroids, meteoroids, and other solar system bodies that are rich in natural resources and rare earth elements that are extremely important to us on Earth. It is possible that the rare earth elements we need may be mined in outer space. This is a problem-based learning activity where students will complete the following tasks:
- Design a mission to explore a world in outer space.
- Identify science goals and mission objectives.
- Choose the correct instruments and engineering systems to sample and collect rare earth elements.
- Accurately determine a budget that includes all instruments related to communication, propulsion, power, and sampling.
- Explain which rare earth elements you hope to find on the mission and how they will benefit industries on Earth
- Use 3-D software to design their space craft and print on a 3-D printer.
- Students must include a timeline for their mission.
Students will present using google docs, prezi, or PowerPoint their final presentations to a panel of experts and answer follow up questions.