History of Rockets

a Webquest for Science, History and Language at Mt. Zion CUSD #3

Introduction:

Rockets represent remarkable collections of human ingenuity. NASA's Space Shuttle, for example, is one of the most complex flying machines ever invented. It stands upright on a launch pad, lifts off as a rocket, orbits Earth as a spacecraft, and returns to Earth as a gliding airplane.

The rockets and spaceships of today and the spaceships of the future have their roots in the science and technology of the past. They are natural outgrowths of literally thousands of years of experimentation and research on rockets and rocket propulsion.

The Task:

As an employee for NASA, your boss, Mr. Blast, has asked you to write a short informational article on the history of rockets. This article will be included in the informational material that NASA provides to visitors at its facilities.

In your article, Mr. Blast, has asked you to include the following information:

 When and where were rockets invented?  When did the Europeans first become exposed to rockets?  How were rockets used throughout the ages? Give examples.  According to an old Chinese legend what did the Chinese official named Wan-Hu do? What happened to him?  When were the scientific foundations for modern rocketry laid? What were some examples of this work?  Who first proposed the idea of space exploration by rocket?  What did Robert H. Goddard (1882-1945) and Hermann Oberth (1894-1989) do to aid in the development of the modern rocket?  What role did Germany play in the development of the modern rocket?  Briefly describe what has happened since the end of World War II in the development of the rocket in both the United States and the Soviet Union.

Evaluation:

Your project will be evaluated on the following criteria:

 Is your informational article clear and concise?  Did you accurately include all the information requested?  Are drawings and photographs clear and used appropriately for the subject?  Did you follow all instructions provided in class about how to write your informational article?  NO PLAGIARISM!!!

Conclusion:

There are two primary benefits that I hope you will obtain from this Webquest. One is that you will gain a better understanding of the long history of rockets. A second benefit is that I hope you will be able to carry out your own research using the Internet to write an informational article.