Satellite Research Project

Satellite Research Project

Your mission will be to research a NOAA or NASA satellite, as well as a scientist, that relates to monitoring weather or climate. You can choose one from the list below, but you might want to read a little bit about them first before you make your pick. Most satellites have their own web pages with lots of information about them and the data they are sending back to scientists. If you find a satellite I have not listed but it interests you, please ask me if you can proceed with your research. This is due March 6th!!

You must also create a model replica of the satellite you choose to research. Find recyclable material, trash or anything at home to help you create your model. It does not have to be fancy and you can do it without spending any money.

*NOAA and NASA Satellites

http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/SatInformation.html

http://www.nasa.gov/missions/current/index.html

http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satmet/index.html

http://ilrs.gsfc.nasa.gov/satellite_missions/list_of_satellites/

· Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)

· Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES)

· Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)

· Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM)/JASON-2

· Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS)

· Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE)

· AIM: Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere

· Aqua

· Aquarius

· ARCTAS

· TERRA

· CryoSat

· TOPEX/Poseidon

· ICESat

· Landsat

· TanDEM-X

· HY-2

· KOMPSAT-5

· SARAL

· Envisat-1

· GRACE-A, -B

This is just a short list. Check out the websites for more. There are 3 parts to this project

1) Research your satellite and understand what it does.

2) Make a model of your satellite using recyclable materials to show and talk about to your classmates.

3) Research a scientist that would work on a mission like the one with your satellite.

* Present this information to your classmates and Mrs. Heins

Satellite Research:

* What is the purpose of this satellite?

* What does it do?

* How high is its orbit?

* How fast is it traveling?

* When was it launched?

* How long is it supposed to last?

* What kinds of scientists and engineers created this satellite?

* Who is using the data from the satellite now?

* How does this satellite help the human race?

* Provide some of the data and/or images that this satellite acquires. What does the data tell us?

* Be able to explain what the different parts on your model satellite do.

Careers in Satellite Meteorology:

* What does your scientist study?

* Why is what they study important to humans?

* What kind of education would this scientist have to have?

* What satellite and data would this scientist use for their studies of Earth? (Have examples for your presentation.)

* Do we have any of these scientists in Flagstaff? (Could you interview them?)

* Would you like to be this type of scientist when you grow up? Why or why not?(Be honest)

Presentation:

Your presentation of the material and satellite can be in any multimedia format you like. It can be a movie, PowerPoint, movie maker, Prezi, imovie, etc. There are many presentation apps out there that you can use as well. Be creative, have fun, but make sure you address everything that you will be scored on. Look at the rubric to be sure!

Examples of models from last year.