WORKING AND STUDYING IN SPACE Concept: The space program has had bothbenefits and costs for Earth's inhabitants. Give some examples of recent spinoffs of weather satellites, and the potential issue of items used aboard the Shuttle and indicate the space program, including microminiaturi- controlling the weather. Students could pre- whether they are reusable or disposable. Dis- zation of electronics, lightweight materials, pare video news reports or "white papers" on cuss the difference between the terms "reusa- solar panels, computerized scanning medical controversial aspects of the topic. ble" and "recyclable." Have students deter- devices, portable x-ray machines, automatic mine whether any disposable items could be utility meter reading devices, compact water Present a hypothetical situationin recycled and discuss the feasibility of such an filters, automatic Inventory cash registers, high which you are NASA and want to hire a idea. headbands, contractor four students to manufac- intensitylights,water-cooled Discuss advantages and disadvantages fabrics made of strong chemical bonds, and ture certain parts for the Space Shuttle. Give the fourstudents a sum of play me ley and a of robotics in space and on Earth. microcomputersoftware. Havestudents period of time to "manufacture" senile meal research their own list. Have teams of students The TD1ISS (Tracking and Data Relay Satel- packs, "or the Shuttle. Then have them dispose report on an item, whether the work it does lite System) is an example of the potential was possible before its space application, and of their money in lb, economic commu- nitythe rest of the class. Use this activity benefits of the current flight. Mission 51-L will how the work it does changes lifestyles on deploy TDRS-B, the second of three communi- to lead into the concept of circular flow of Earth.Havethe studentsillustratetheir cation satellites that will allow almost full-time goods and services. Have students generalize repoas. coverage of the Shuttle and up to 26 other about the impact of NASA spending. severalscenariosthat Have students pursue spinoff technolo satellites.Present involve communications satellites such as an gies in more detail. Teachers can locate Many of the economic Impacts of NASA are important news story breaking in Europe, a materials through NASA Teacher Resource first felt on a local level. The areas surrounding the Johnson Space Center in Texas and the long-lost relative calling from Latvia, oi world- Centers. Kennedy Space Center in Florida are obvious wide viewing of the Olympic games. Discuss a. Assign a group G.,* students to develop a examples. Students may want to generalize how communications satellites are involved in catalog of spinoff products. about the potential impact of a NASA flinty on each example and how the quality, speed, and b. Have students locate information on a community, discussing increased retail sales, reliability of the communications would be specific products and report bow they are employment, increased per capita income, and affected without the use of satellites. linked to the space program, e.g., fabric accelerated road and building construction. Have students address the questions that used for the Pontiac (Detroit) Silver. Have students speculate about the dome, heat absorbing clothes for athletes, follow in small groups, debates, written future economic impact of space trael and essays, or discussions. NASTRAN computer structural analysis colonization. They may want tous..i a program, and plastic welding. derision- making model to decide a bypoo.bei- a. Why were previous spacecraft not designed to be reusable? (technological c.Challenge students to create a 'Tech. ical issue, such as whether a space colony nological/Economic Impact" statement should be established. The key concept would limitations, changes in budgetary poll, highlighting and analyzing the impact of be the economic impact of the colony. ties, and cost increases) spinoffs. This could be reported in tradi. b. What advantages are provided by this tional oral or written formats or as a Offer the following research opportunity: In past decades, "urban renewal" has been a Space Shuttle design? (more economical video news report format. Challenge a highly controversial topic. The current trend of in terms of dollars per payload, resource second group of students to create the conservation, ability to repair inoperable "revitalization," a mix of refurbished and new opposite scenario, "What If We Had Not satellites, twoway transportation) Pursued the Space Program" and to construction, is a parallel. Direct students to locate information on the Impacts of this trend c. What considerations in terms of reuse report itin a"Point-Counterpoint" format and to compare it with renewal. Discuss the are involved with the Space Station or implications for life in space. other "permanent" spacefacilities?(sim- Although the spinoffs seem to have improved ilar economic considerations) life on Earth, some individuals and groups Challenge students to investigate the t. Consider products and packaging believe that the technology has also brought regulation of communications satellites involved in your everyday life that could increased costs. Do a cost-benefit analysis (orbits and relay frequencies). They may and should be recycled. and debate the issue. approach it in an international economic or legal context at the present time or at some Weather satellites are another benefit of future age. Have a group of students prepare a collage spacetechnology.Students may wish to of magazine pictures or a mural showing space research and report the following areas. fore- Although the Shuttle itself is reusable, the technology at work in their community. Com- casting, television reporting, the meteorologi- equipment and items for crew life aboard the munities may allow these murals to be painted calsatellitesystem, economic impacts of Shuttle may be disposable. Have students list on or displayed in shop windows. 12 11 WORMING AND STUDYING IN SPACE Concept: The spaceprogram generates experimentationin a variety of scientific fields. Provide students some background on the Explore the following thought questions: use of crystals in communications. Explain that Ask students to prepare two advertise- ments that would convince manufacturers to the space program has extended theoppor- a. How does the process of growing a conduct experiments aboard the Shuttle. One tunities for scientists to study and grow useful crystal of germanium or silicon differ group could do a magazine advertisement; the crystals. Discuss the potential benefits of grow- from growing crystals of sugar or salt? ing a crystal in a microgravity environment. second, a radio or television advertisement. b. How would microgravity make puri- Generate ideas in a brainstorming session. Ask students to defend or refute Isaac fying metals easier? Asimov's idea: "Another kind of structure in outer spaa is factories. There is no reason c. What is the advantage of containerless why a good proportion of our Industrial processing of materials over beating thim factories couldn't be placed in orbit. Pollu- in ceramic containers on Earth? Parts of a Comet tion that it produces can be discharged into d. Irby do some materials form crystals space." and others do not? TAIL Objedives: NUCLEUS 1. lb describe the structure and behavior the flashlight to represent the solarpres- of the Comet Halley sure of light. Darken the room. Have a 2. lb draw a comet and label its parts student circle close to the "Sun" carrying COMA 3. lb explain that light radiationexerts the tray of dry ice while the blower directs pressure the sublimating gas away from thecoma. MOVEMENT OF COMET HALLEY 4. lb place ultraviolet radiation in the Observe that the gaseous tall is always electromagnetic spectrum correctly and streaming away from the Sun. Qt:*stion compare its wave lengths to that of light students as to which parts of the demon- \. stration are similar to Comet Halley's trip 1. Explain to students that on Flight Day 3, the close to the Sun. Explain that the Spartan astronomical instrument was de- pressure ,/\ of light is due to tiny particles called pho- AA ployed from the payload bay to examine \ sjGOTAIWS tons. Light can exist in fact as both wave CA"'"*".);Ail the tail of Comet Halley. At this time, iSCO\ and particles. The pressure of LIAR radiation pressure from the Sun will make our Sun's light is called the solar wind in APR S-;;;:. the sublimation of materials from the head space. 5. of the Comet the greatest. The ultraviolet Exhibit a "dirty snowball" with a rockcore. spectrometers on the Spartan will tape Explain that in the vacuum ofspace, ice changes to gas without melting (sublima- Late Jan. toComet at Its brightest but can- record Comet radiation invisible to the Feb., '86 not be seen from Earth as it human eye. The Spartan unit tion). The dirt becomes the dust of thetall, circles the Sun. was retrieved Fab. 24, '86 by the Shui!e on Flight Day 5. When and the particles in the rocky core eventu- Comet reappears in early ally disintegrate to dust We morning sky, just before sun- returned to Earth, the data will be analyzed see them as rise, a few degrees above the and compared to other ultraviolet data meteors in our upper atmosphere. eastern horizon. 6.Darken the room and demonstrateone Mar. 6,'88Comet visible, perhaps with a gathered by Spacelabs and satellites to help small tail, 5 degrees above the us understand the Universe. property of ultraviolet light by shining an eastern horizon during dawn 2. Ask students who have recently observed ultraviolet (UV) light sourceon "glow in twilight. the dark" materials. Clap erasers Mar. 26, '66Comet 10 degrees above south- Comet Halley to describe their sightings to near the east horizon in pre-dawn morn- beam of the UV source to see if eraser dust class members. List pertinent factson the ing. Its tall may reach up to 20 appears different under UV than in normal degrees or more.