YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE | SPACESTATIONEXPLORERS.ORG

be 4.2 km (2.6 miles)! The volunteer doesn’t need to walk that far. that walk to need doesn’t volunteer The miles)! (2.6 km 4.2 be

to Mars would would Mars to distance average the basketball, a is If Moon. and Earth

Give Mars to another volunteer and ask where Mars should be in relation to the the to relation in be should Mars where ask and volunteer another to Mars Give

Add a red ball to represent Mars! Its diameter should be about half of Earth’s. Earth’s. of half about be should diameter Its Mars! represent to ball red a Add 1.

EXTENSION

should be to the Earth model. If Earth is a basketball, the ISS is just 8 millimeters away! away! millimeters 8 just is ISS the basketball, a is Earth If model. Earth the to be should

Give another volunteer the object representing the Space Station and ask how close it it close how ask and Station Space the representing object the volunteer another Give 4.

The distance is probably farther than they expect! expect! they than farther probably is distance The

the volunteers to move apart until the string is extended. extended. is string the until apart move to volunteers the

Give the end of the string to the Moon volunteer and ask ask and volunteer Moon the to string the of end the Give 3.

Moon. Tape the Earth model to that place on the string. string. the on place that to model Earth the Tape Moon.

9.5 times to approximate the distance between Earth and the the and Earth between distance the approximate to times 9.5

Ask the Earth volunteer to wrap the string around the planet planet the around string the wrap to volunteer Earth the Ask 2.

the distance between the Earth and the Moon. the and Earth the between distance the

Ask them to move to positions that they think show show think they that positions to move to them Ask

Give the Earth to one volunteer and the Moon to another. another. to Moon the and volunteer one to Earth the Give 1.

PROCEDURE

String •

Pin, paper cutout, or other small object representing the ISS the representing object small other or cutout, paper Pin, •

is a basketball for Earth with a tennis ball for the Moon. the for ball tennis a with Earth for basketball a is

should be about 1/4 of the Earth’s diameter. A good pairing pairing good A diameter. Earth’s the of 1/4 about be should www.iss-casis.org

Spheres representing Earth and the Moon. The Moon’s diameter diameter Moon’s The Moon. the and Earth representing Spheres •

CASIS is the parent organization and sponsor of Space Station Explorers. Explorers. Station Space of sponsor and organization parent the is CASIS

MATERIALS

demand for sustained commercial activity in low Earth orbit. Earth low in activity commercial sustained for demand

Lab to foster innovative research, inspire students, and stimulate stimulate and students, inspire research, innovative foster to Lab

Laboratory. CASIS is responsible for maximizing use of the ISS National National ISS the of use maximizing for responsible is CASIS Laboratory.

that humans have ventured to and where we’re headed. we’re where and to ventured have humans that

has a mission to manage and provide access to the ISS U.S. National National U.S. ISS the to access provide and manage to mission a has

Let’s compare the distances between the space destinations destinations space the between distances the compare Let’s

(CASIS) Space in Science of Advancement for Center The

Mars and back will be the next chapter in human spaceflight. spaceflight. human in chapter next the be will back and Mars

CASIS space missions, like the journey to Mars. Sending humans to to humans Sending Mars. to journey the like missions, space

The ISS is an ideal platform for humans to prepare for long-duration long-duration for prepare to humans for platform ideal an is ISS The

Space Station (ISS), the Moon, and soon, Mars! soon, and Moon, the (ISS), Station Space

only ventured to a few destinations: the International International the destinations: few a to ventured only

many regions within our solar system, but humans have have humans but system, solar our within regions many

spacestationexplorers.org

Space agencies have sent robotic spacecraft to explore explore to spacecraft robotic sent have agencies Space

Space Destinations Space

well as news, videos, lesson plans, and activities about the ISS. the about activities and plans, lesson videos, news, as well

Visit SpaceStationExplorers.org to access our partner programs as as programs partner our access to SpaceStationExplorers.org Visit Measuring Distances to to Distances Measuring and even design and launch their own experiments to space! space! to experiments own their launch and design even and

observations, follow along with science experiments on the ISS, ISS, the on experiments science with along follow observations, SPACE IN

astronauts, seeds that flew in space, participate in Earth Earth in participate space, in flew that seeds plant astronauts,

h h wit talk can Students (STEM). math and engineering, technology,

as a platform to inspire and engage learners in science, science, in learners engage and inspire to platform a as

HUMANS

and programs that use the International Space Station (ISS) (ISS) Station Space International the use that programs and

is a community of educational partners partners educational of community a is Explorers Station Space Space Station Explorers Station Space

DESIGN A The International Space Station was was assembled in space and many segments were built in different countries. It has fourteen pressurized modules plus a truss, huge solar panels, and two robotic arms. It contains two bathrooms, SPACE six sleep stations, and areas for exercising and preparing food. It also has many workspaces for maintaining the station’s systems and doing science experiments. WELCOMETO THE STATION INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION YOUR MISSION The World’s Use the engineering design process to create one or IMAGINE AND DESIGN Orbital Laboratory more space station modules with the materials provided. After learning about the ISS (visit SpaceStationExplorers.org The International Space Station Work as a team to assemble for great ISS content), brainstorm and write down your ideas. What does a space station need to keep humans alive? (ISS) is one of humanity’s greatest everyone’s modules into a achievements in engineering and complete space station. What is it like to live, work, eat and sleep in space? Would you need chairs, tables or beds? How would you exercise? cooperation. It orbits about 400 km Where would your electricity and water supply come from? (250 miles) above Earth’s surface at MATERIALS 28,000 km (17,500 miles) per hour.

• Clean, empty 2-liter bottles BUILD In 2005, Congress designated Cut a window in the side of each SPACE STATION FACTS • Utility knife bottle to access the inside. As you the U.S. segment of the ISS as the create the interior of your module, newest national laboratory. There • Assembling the International Space Station took 35 • Tape you can use all the materials provided are many areas of science being Space Shuttle missions and over 150 spacewalks between 1998 and 2011. • Aluminum foil or choose only some of them. explored on the ISS National Lab including life sciences, physical • Pieces of cardboard TEST AND REDESIGN sciences, , • The space station, including its large solar arrays, or foam core materials science, technology spans the area of a U.S. football field. Pick up and rotate your module. Remember that development, and human research. • PVC pipe fittings (such in microgravity there is no sense of up or down and • The mass of the ISS is over 419,600 kilograms, equivalent as elbows, T-fittings, loose items can float freely and get lost. Do you to 925,000 pounds or more than 320 cars! and 4-way fittings) need to modify your module for microgravity? In the microgravity environment of • Miscellaneous materials the ISS, fires burn differently, liquids • The distance that the ISS travels in one day is When you’re ready, work with the (modeling clay, craft crystallize differently, and living cells equivalent to flying to the Moon and back! other builders to assemble all the foam, tongue depressors, (including the cells in astronauts’ modules using PVC pipe fittings and pipe cleaners, etc.) bodies) change their behavior. On • The ISS completes one orbit around Earth every tape. Make the solar panels out of the station’s exterior, experiments 92 minutes, letting astronauts see about 15 cardboard and Safety Note: Adult supervision can be exposed to conditions sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours. and assistance is required aluminum foil. when using utility knife including vacuum, increased radiation, and extreme temperature • The ISS has been continuously inhabited since changes. Research in this unique 2000, usually with six people aboard. setting has led to improvements in ANALYSIS AND , technology, and other • Since 2011, all crews have traveled to and from the REFLECTION applications that benefit people ISS on Soyuz capsules, which fit three people. It takes about 4000 kilograms (8800 pounds) of supplies to Discuss as a group: here on Earth! support three astronauts for a typical six-month stay. 1. Which materials were most important in your Space Station design? • As of January 2017, 226 astronauts from 8 countries 2. What were advantages and disadvantages to designing and building as a team? have spent time on the space station. 3. What did you learn from seeing the others’ creations? 4. After doing this activity, what new questions do you have about the Discover more about the space station International Space Station? Where will you look for the answers? through the activities on these pages!