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Space telescopes can offer us better, clearer views of the universe (and of our own planet) than Earth-based telescopes can, but getting these large, delicate pieces of equipment into orbit is tricky. In "Exploring the Universe: Pack a Space Telescope," participants get a taste of the challenges faced by engineers in designing and building complicated tools that can fold up to fit inside a spacecraft, and then unfold again when they deploy in orbit. Participants will design, build, pack, and deploy their own model space telescopes in this activity.
- 5 to 10 minutes
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 1 cent - $1 per student
- Ages 6 - 14
- Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per student)
- Ariane 5 Rocket “testing site” (PVC pipe stand)
- Honeycomb-shaped golden mirror cards (100)
- Sunshield cards (100)
- String
- Clear tape
- Scissors
- James Webb Space Telescope poster
- Colored construction paper and markers (optional)
Subjects
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Earth and Space Science
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Astronomy
- Probes, Satellites and Spacecraft
- Earth, Moon and Sun
- Solar System
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Astronomy
-
Physical Sciences
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Light and Optics
- Lenses and Mirrors
- Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Sunlight and Color
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Light and Optics
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Engineering and Technology
-
Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
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Technology
- Information and Communication
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Engineering
Other
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- National Informal STEM Education Network
Source Collection
- NISE Network
Rights:
- Creative Commons: Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa), National Informal STEM Education Network, 2018
Funding Source:
- NASA, NNX16AC67A