Webquest: Rockets, Satellites and Space Probes
Directions: Click on the links in order to find answers to the following questions.
Rockets
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/rocketry/home/what-is-a-rocket-k4.html
1. What are the two different meanings for the word “rocket”?
2. Why is a rocket able to work in space, but a jet engine is not?
3. What are the two possible fuel types for rockets?
4. Explain how a rocket works. Use Newton’s Third Law in your explanation and draw a picture to
support.
5. How does NASA use rockets today?
Click on “Image Gallery” on the left hand side of the page. Browse through the images and read the
captions to learn more about NASA’s rockets. Choose two rockets. Write their name and one interesting
fact about them in the space below.
1.
2.
Satellites
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/what-is-a-satellite-58.html
1. What is a satellite? Give an example of a natural and artificial satellite.
2. Name and describe the purpose of the two essential parts of satellites.
3. How do satellites get into space? What keeps them in Earth’s orbit, instead of flying off into space?
4. When was the first artificial satellite launched into space? What was its name?
5. Name and describe two purposes of satellites today.
At the bottom of the article, click on “Earth Missions Past, Present and Future Satellites”. Choose two missions
(be sure they are satellites!) and write their name and brief description below.
1.
2.
Space Probes
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/space_level2/probes.html
1. What is a space probe?
Complete the following chart using 3 examples of probes to other planets and 2 examples of probes of the
universe.
Name of Probe
Destination
Launch Date
Purpose
Finished? Go here and explore some of the links.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/rocketry/multimedia/index.html