Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
March 2014
Space/Rocket Curriculum Goals
◦ Provide Information About Space, Science, Rocketry and
Transportation Machines
◦ Stimulate Interest in School/Learning/Goals/Better One’s-Self
◦ Promote Open Discussions, Allow Students To Think, Express and
Brainstorm
◦ Teach Students How To Follow Instructions and Complete a Project -
working together as a team (Build and Possibly Launch a Rocket)
Sessions
◦ #1: History of Space Travel
◦ #2: Orbits and Gravity
◦ #3: General Rocketry
◦ #4: Rocket Design
◦ #5: Build Rocket(s)
◦ #6: Launch
Session Formats
◦ Imagery (online videos): “Fire and Smoke”
◦ Rocket building project and launch (rocket derby)
Goal
◦ Familiarize Students with the Fascinating History of Rocketry
◦ Talk about how to accomplish a “big” project – break it down into sub sections and
accomplish piece by piece (Mercury/Gemini/Apollo)
Videos:
◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEdtvct6Tf0
◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y3fIr4dVYE&feature=related
◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awyuMF9rYhQ
◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdQFZRJhkCk
◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFwqZ4qAUkE
Side topics/discussions:
◦ Balloons, Airplanes, Helicopters, Rockets – Why/How Do They Fly
◦ Orbit:
What is an Orbit: Show Video With Canyon Ball:
http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/en/kids/orbits1.shtml
◦ Gravity:
a. Talk about how ideally, all masses fall to ground at same
acceleration; discuss big rock/little rock when dropped will hit
ground at the same time Relative weights of objects on
planets
Mercury 0.38
b. Talk about gravity around all planets/moons Venus 0.91
Earth 1
Mars 0.38
c. Discuss table of relative body weights on other planets ready Jupiter 2.54
Saturn 1.08
Uranus 0.91
d. Show video of Astronauts In Space Shuttle and explain that they Neptune 1.19
are floating because they are FALLING!! Use dropping elevator Pluto
Moon
0.06
0.6
scenario or the dropping airplane scenario
◦ Atmosphere:
◦ Talk about friction, rub hands together for younger kids
Goal
◦ Instruct Students on General Rocketry – what are rockets, their uses, their operation
principles
Basic Operation
◦ How/Why Rockets Fly – fire/smoke out the backend – equal and opposite reaction,
payload upfront, separation of stages – why?
◦ Temperatures/Speeds/Materials
◦ Newton’s Laws (see next slide)
Digress – Talk about science, science laws and our world
1st Law (Inertia):
◦ “In the absence of contrary forces, the speed and direction of an
object’s movement will remain constant.”
Explanation: The force generated by the escaping gasses from the
rocket motor must be great enough to lift the rocket’s total mass from
the launch pad, or it will not fly.
F ma
Where:
F = force
m = mass
a = acceleration
The rocket motor’s total energy is called its total “Impulse” and is a
measure of rocket motor’s overall performance-
Impulse is the sum (or integral) of total force imparted over the time
it acts upon the rocket:
ITotal F T
T
ITotal Fdt or
0
Where:
F = force history profile
T = Total time
Goal:
◦ Dig in deep to rocket design - learn the major components and systems
◦ Discuss Design, Analysis, Test, Build
Discussion:
◦ Propulsion (Solid, Liquid)
◦ Fins – why do we need them
◦ Nose Cone – Aerodynamics and payload protection
◦ Nozzle – essence of the propulsion system
◦ Igniter – gets it all started
Operation
◦ How do we Maneuver Rockets
◦ Flight Termination
◦ Countdown/procedures
Overexpanded
vs
o Discuss:
- Vastness of these engineering marvels – as tall as a 10 – 20 story building
- Attention to detail, ask questions, learn, communicate with each other
Convert chemical energy to heat ==>> Movement of heated gases ==> Energy of motion
(Burning Propellant) (through Nozzle exit) (Imparted Force)
Exhaust Nozzle
Cut-away view of a
Ignitor
typical Rocket Motor
Propellant
Motor Case
o Discuss:
- There are lots of different types of engineers who work with rockets – we work as a team
Flight Computer
Guidance/Navigation and Control
Electrical Power
Thrust Vector Control
RF
o Discuss:
- Why Do we need Flight Termination?
- Why Do we need separation mechanisms?
Flight Termination
Payload Separation
Stage Separation
Goal:
◦ Build Rockets/team work/follow instructions – team work
Build Ideas:
◦ Students Read Out loud Instructions
◦ Students Initial Steps Complete
◦ Students Perform Quality Inspections
Launch Ideas:
◦ Create Launch Countdown Checklist and Have various students perform
duties
Test Conductor
Pad Chief
Range Safety Officer
Counter