Young Engineers and
Science Clubs Scotland
‘Space’ for
Science and
Technology
Science Clubbing activities inspired by the Scottish Space Foundation
MISSION CONTROL OBJECTIVES
for each Space Crew
To work as a team with each other and
with the club leaders/mentors
To carry out Scientific Investigations
To solve Technology Problems
To provide Mission Control with a suitable
display and appropriate Reports.
Planning for MARS
Mission Control need each team to respond to
3 sets of problems
•Satellites and Solar cells
Satellite Positioning in Zero Gravity
Solar Panel Adjustment during Extra Vehicular Activity
•Astronaut Matters
Feeling Faint (Astronaut fitness)
Space Boot Design
•Planning Planetary Landings
Parachute Performance
Payload Packaging
Satellites and
Solar Cells
Astronaut training exercise:
Model solar powered satellite to be
positioned precisely in ‘zero gravity’
situation.
Scientific Investigation:
Mission Control requires solar panel
output data to pass on to astronauts on
e.v.a.
Helium
Balloon
Model
Satellite
To be positioned so that it does not float
away or sink towards the ground but
remains in one place.
Satellites and Solar Cells
Satellites and
Solar Cells
SATELLITE
POSITIONING
1.Collect a helium balloon – DONT LET IT GO!!!
2. Use the straws and the tissue paper to make model solar
panels on opposite sides of the balloon
3. Add the right amount of polystyrene to hold the satellite
steady when released
4. Get photographic evidence of your success!
Now design and test a ‘Grabber’ to retrieve your satellite!
Powered by the SUN
How does the voltage output of a solar
panel change if you alter:
(a)The strength of the light (distance from
source)
(b)The angle of the panel
(c)The area of the panel
Satellites and Solar Cells
Solar Cells – 3 Investigations
Solar Cell
lamp
Angle chart
1. Keep the same distance and area - change the angle
2. Keep the same angle and area - change the distance
3. Keep the same distance and angle – change the area
Make graphs or bar charts of your results for your display
Solar Panel Results
Distance Voltage
(cm)
(v)
10
20
30
40
Angle(o)
Voltage(v)
30
45
60
90
Panel area Voltage
(squares) (v)
2
4
6
8
Astronaut Matters
Feeling Faint
Astronaut training for zero gravity conditions
- Monitoring blood pressure in different
situations
Space Boot Design
For future astronauts walking on Mars,what
characteristics will their boots need to have?
Carry out Scientific Investigation to
compare the properties of different
materials
Astronaut Matters
Feeling Faint
How does blood flow to the brain if
a person is standing?
How does lying down or sitting affect
the flow of blood, the blood pressure,
and the heart rate?
Does it make a difference if the person
is tall or short?
How does gravity affect blood flow and
Blood pressure?
What changes occur in blood flow
under micro-gravity conditions?
Checking Pulse and Blood
Pressure
Name
…………
B.P.
Left.
Arm
Right
B.P.
Left
Leg
Right
sitting
Astronaut Matters
standing
lying
Pulse
Gather data from all your group – and a mentor!
Astronaut Matters
Boots And Soles Of Astronauts
The space boots used today do not allow the
astronaut to walk while wearing them. This is
not a problem since today’s space suit for
leaving the Shuttle or Station requires no
walking—just floating. For this reason, the next
generation of space suits may have to include
some ability to be used on a planetary
surface Specifically, the space suit
boot will need to be redesigned…
Astronaut Matters
Boots And Soles Of Astronauts
Design teams are asked to test 4 ‘new’ materials to see if
they will be suitable for use in the redesigned space boots
Simple Scientific investigations are needed to test each material

How flexible are they?

How tough are they ?

Do they lose heat readily?

How well do they grip?
Mission Control want recommendations backed by scientific evidence

For which part of the boot, if any, should they be used?
Testing materials for space boots
Bumpy plastic
wool/rubber
anti slip cloth
fleece
Flexibility : can they all be wrapped round a canister?
Heat Loss: How much does the same amount of hot
water cool down in each covered container? Check
the temperature every 5 minutes for 15 minutes.
Grip: Clip each one in turn onto your clip board. Place
an object on it then gradually tilt the board. How
much can you tilt it before the object starts to slip?
Toughness : How much damage does rubbing each
material 20 times with sandpaper do?
Astronaut Matters
Space Boot material tests
Material
Temp drop(oC )
Material Wear’ntear
Material Slip height
Overall
Testing Materials for Space Boots
Material
Toughness Heat
flow
Results
How bendy
(flexibility)
Grip
Fleece
Bumpy
plastic
Wool/rubber
Anti-slip
fibre
Which materials would you recommend for your design?
Preparing for
planetary landings
Ejector Landing devices
Scientific Investigation to find out how
changing the number of parachutes affects
the flight of a Pad Abort Demonstrator
(PAD).
Protecting the Payload
Packaging the delicate equipment to ensure
a safe landing, designing and testing a suitable
PAD.
Preparing for
planetary landings
Parachutes
Determine how changing the number of
parachutes can affect the flight of
the Pad Abort Demonstrator (PAD).
*Mission Control will expect teams to
design, construct and then demonstrate
their PAD in action, using
PAD
a raw egg as the ‘delicate cargo’
Teams must be able to release the cargo
within 20 seconds of landing
Materials will be priced and costs must be
estimated.
Preparing for
planetary landings
How many parachutes?
(1,2 or 3)
Connected together or not?
Split your
investigation into
parts to make your
experiments a ‘fair
test’ each time
What length of string?
What PAD design?
Parachute results
Keep string same length
Type of
Parachute
Time to fall
(s)
String
Time to
length(cm) fall(s)
1 single
2 singles
3 singles
3 joined
together
Keep parachute same
PAD Design
Check out the ‘cost’
of each material
before starting your
design
£?
You can use
a canister to
substitute for
the egg
while you
are at the
planning
stages
Prepare a
technology
report for the
display
Preparing for planetary landings
Team name………………………………………………..
Captain……………………………………
Material
Sellotape
Bubble wrap
Cotton wool
Paper cups
Lolly sticks
Cocktail sticks
napkins
straws
Amount used
Estimate
Cost
…………..
Material
Market Price
Sellotape (1m max)
Sponsored (free)
Bubble wrap
(10cm sq)
£1500
Foam sheeting (10cm sq)
£1000
Cotton wool ball
£2000
Carrier bag (1 max)
sponsored
4 Lolly sticks
£1000
Plastic cup /lid
£1500/£500
Cocktail stick, paper clip
£500
A4 card per sheet
£500
Your Mission…...should you choose to accept it
Design a ‘Mission Patch’
which could be used by
the European Space
Agency as a Logo for the
next World Solar
challenge across
Australia. The design
should also be suitable
for use on
commemorative coins or
medals.
Mission patches
Mike Baker
The patch designed by the
shuttle crew who lost their lives
on COLUMBIA 1/2/03