Space Travel Research Groups:

Group roles: Making model and/or sketch. Answer questions and/or present.

1.  Moving in space: Answer questions, sketch of slingshot effect, Model of rocket, and

presentation leader.

  1. How do we get out of the Earth’s gravity (talk about Newton)?
  2. Include information about rockets.
  1. How do the machines move once they are in space?
  1. How are the planets moving (Kepler)?
  1. Explain what the slingshot effect is and how scientists use it.

2.  Effects of Microgravity on the body? Questions, sketches, and presentation leader.

  1. What is microgravity?
  2. How does microgravity feel?
  3. How does microgravity affect human
  4. Muscles
  5. Bones
  6. How astronauts’ bodies look

3.  Space suites: Questions, model building, sketches, and presentation leader.

  1. How do space suits provide
  2. Pressure
  3. Temperature (insulation)
  4. Atmosphere
  5. Protection from radiation
  6. Help with movement
  7. Why do astronauts need space suits?
  8. How do astronauts practice with their space suits on Earth?

4.  Space food. Questions, model of how to eat with the food, sketches, and presentation leader.

  1. How is it packaged?
  2. What does it look like?
  3. How do astronauts dine?
  4. How much food do they take?
  5. How do they drink?
  6. What does the food taste like?

5.  Waste Management: Questions, sketch of restroom/shower, model of waste disposal, and presentation leader.

  1. What do astronauts do with their trash?
  2. How do astronauts use the restroom?
  1. What do they do with the human wastes (including CO2?
  1. How do they shower?

6.  Living in Space: Questions, model of space station, sketch of space station, and presentation leader.

  1. Explain what a space station is?
  1. How many exist and for how long?
  1. What is their purpose?
  1. What are the problems humans face when spending a long time in space?
  2. Illness
  3. Depression
  4. Sleeping

7.  Space Craft: Questions, model of space probe, sketch of space probe, model of space shuttle, sketch of space shuttle, and presentation leader.

  1. Describe why we use space probes.
  1. Name a probe
  2. The day it was launched
  3. The purpose of the probe
  1. Describe what a space shuttle is for.
  1. Name
  2. Day launched
  3. Purpose
  1. How do you figure out the distance, time, and cost of a mission?