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/
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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.
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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.