The Space Race Engineering Academy just wrapped up! We had so much fun teaching such a curious and creative group of students! Thank you to everyone who joined us for our virtual academy! We hope to see all of you in April for our next session, Bio Bosses. Sign up to take part in more innovative engineering challenges!
Included below is a quick recap of our academy.
On day one, We started by discussing the main functions and abilities of a rover, highlighting the roles different types of engineers play in the construction and usage of Mars Rovers. We also talked about analog and digital sensors and other parts of rovers, specifically focusing on the various sensors rovers are equipped with in order to collect data.
On day two, we covered the history of astronautical engineering, including the most famous successes and failures, where we discussed how spacecraft communicate with Earth through the use of satellites and antennas. Next, we dove into how spacecrafts are launched, and the optimal location to launch them in terms of gravity, surface centrifugal force, and the equatorial bulge. Finally, we went over different approaches to powering spacecraft, including nuclear reactions, chemical reactions, and RTGs. Students were then able to build and test their very own Strawket - our very own rendition of a rocket!
On day three, we began with a discussion about the process of becoming an astronaut, including astronaut training and space suits. We learned a lot about the ISS, including how it was built, the main modules, and how it functioned. Students took a Google virtual tour of the ISS and discovered many features inside of it. Next, we went through the importance of the engineering applications within the ISS. Lastly, in breakout rooms, students investigated spacesuits and researched different materials, as well as possible methods of designing and building them. Students were able to use their very own materials and resources to design their own fabric to model their new and improved spacesuit.
On the fourth and final day of our session, we explored aeronautical engineering. We started with an in-depth demonstration on how different forces (i.e. normal, gravity, friction, etc.) act on a specific object, with students practicing with four force diagrams from real-world events, and an instructor clarifying any questions. In our final hands-on activity of Space Race, students were able to apply their new knowledge of forces and physics to create and test a paper airplane in motion. The students followed the eight models with the instructions that were listed, while some even used their prior knowledge of paper airplanes to create unique designs! The students modified their airplane over various iterations, by adding mass, adjusting the direction of the launch, changing the wing design, and more! We wrapped up the week by playing a quick round of Jeopardy based on topics from earlier lessons!
We see some future astronauts here!
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