Research Communicating. Introduction Students explore what it takes to be an astronaut and choose a crew for their own hypothetical space mission.

Transcription

1 Astronaut Avatar Curriculum links Space 1.1, 2.3, 2.5, 3.3 Skills Research Communicating Introduction Students explore what it takes to be an astronaut and choose a crew for their own hypothetical space mission. Materials Items Quantity Astronaut biographies Set of 10 Student Sheets Sheet Quantity Page Astronaut Traits 1 per student S1-S3 Astronaut Avatar 1 per student S4 Venn Diagram (optional) 1 per student S5 Mission Overviews 1 per group S6 Mission Selection 1 per student S7 My Crew Manifest 1 per student S8 Class Time 90 min (over 2-3 sessions) Prep Time min Group Size 1-6 Key Words Objectives: Students will: o Research the strengths and interests of Canadian astronauts. o Self assess their own strengths and learning styles. o Discover the diverse blend of traits needed for a space mission. Science Centre Connections: Space Hall Exhibits located on Level 4 Ontario Science Centre T- 1

2 Astronaut Avatar Teacher Preparation: o Prepare the Canadian Astronaut biographies. You can copy or post the ones that are included in the kit or have students do their own research on the Internet. o Copy a class set of student sheets listed above. o Review provided examples if needed. Procedure: 1. Introduce the first task: Today, you are going to learn which skills and interests you possess that would make you a great astronaut. Before you do that, you will need to research Canadian Astronauts and learn about their skills and interests. 2. Distribute the Student Worksheet, Astronaut Traits (S1). Have students read the biographies of at least two Canadian Astronauts. Students should choose one astronaut and fill out the first page of the Astronaut Traits worksheet. Note: The biographies of the Canadian Astronauts are summarized from the Canadian Space Agency website. If your students have access to the Internet you may wish to access these biographies directly at: 3. Introduce the second task: You have seen the types of people who were chosen to be Canadian Astronauts. Not all astronauts are experts in the same thing. Each one brings their own skills to the job. You are now going to think about the skills that you would bring to an astronaut crew. 4. Now have students complete the Astronaut Traits (S2-S3) sheet to outline the skills they would bring to a crew of astronauts. 5. Optional task: Venn Diagram (S5) The purpose of this optional activity would allow students to make connections that they have something in common with real astronauts. Skills and Interests that are common between a student and an astronaut would go Ontario Science Centre T- 2

3 Astronaut Avatar in the middle, while parts that are unique to each person would go in the appropriate area. This is also a nice crossover to the Math Curriculum. 6. Introduce the third task: An Avatar is a representation of your astronaut character. Think of your astronaut avatar as a sports trading card. You should include a picture of your avatar as an astronaut (in space gear!), the skills you have that you bring to an astronaut crew, and a short biography. 7. Distribute the Student Worksheet, Astronaut Avatar (S4). Students should use their Astronaut Trait sheet to develop their Astronaut Avatar, including a biography and a portrait. You may want to refer to the sample Astronaut Avatar included in the kit. You may also want to assign this for homework as more artistic, creative students may need more time. Note: The teacher may want the avatars and their biographies to be anonymous (names on the backs of sheets), so students will pick their crew on their skills and traits alone. 8. Collect the Astronaut Avatar sheets and display them around the room. Note: These displayed avatars will be used later on when astronauts choose their crewmates for upcoming missions. 9. Introduce the fourth task: Today you are going to start preparing for a mission to space. Imagine taking a road trip with a team of five other explorers from different countries, with various personalities and interests. On your trip, you will never get the chance to stop or get out until you reach your destination. You will live and work side by side with your teammates. Along the way you may face some challenges, cramped spaces, interpersonal conflict, boredom, dizziness, equipment failure, or sudden emergencies. Do you have what it takes for space travel? There are three possible missions you can choose from: Space Tourist on the International Space Station, Space Pioneer that returns to the Moon or Space Explorer on Mars. Before you make your decision, you may want to review your skills and interests from Astronaut Traits and read about each mission from the Mission Chart to decide which one is the best match for you. Ontario Science Centre T- 3

4 Astronaut Avatar Once you have decided which mission you would like to be selected for, list your best two qualities and be prepared to explain why they would be suited for your chosen mission. 10. Distribute the student worksheet Mission Selection (S6-S7) and have students choose ONE of the three missions. Or you may want to have them pick two different traits for EACH mission. 11. Once students have chosen the mission that most interests them and explained how their traits and qualities would be a benefit to the mission, they will need to choose crewmates. 12. Introduce the fifth task. Now that you have decided on your mission, you will need to decide who your crewmates will be. The key is to have a balanced crew with many diverse traits, learning styles, and skills represented. Look around the room at all of the Astronaut Avatars that have been posted. As you choose your crew, remember which mission you have selected. Look at the Requirements section of the Mission Chart as a guide to help you choose the rest of your team. Though crew compatibility is important in a long mission, think beyond choosing those avatars who you think you might get along with. The key is to have a balanced crew with many diverse traits, learning styles and skills represented for all three missions. You will need to explain your choices! 13. Distribute the student worksheet My Crew Manifest (S8) 14. Have students go around the room to read the Astronaut Avatar sheets. From these, each student will select a crew of 6 (including themselves) for their particular space mission. They can select from any of the class astronauts, not just the astronauts who have also chosen the same mission group. 15. Have students either write or prepare a short presentation about their crew selection. Note: These students are now astronauts, and they are ready to prepare for their various missions. To be on top of their game, they will need to complete the rest of the activities included in this package to become confident, capable astronauts! Ontario Science Centre T- 4

5 Astronaut Avatar Extension: Astronaut Application Have students prepare a resume to apply for a job as an astronaut at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). 1. Read or post the job description of Canadian Astronaut. Discuss with students whether or not this would be a good job for them. Note: They can apply as a student astronaut (realistic) or as an adult astronaut (projecting their skills and knowledge with justification). Do you think you d like to be an astronaut? Here is the job posting for Astronauts put out by the Canadian Space Agency in Thousands of people from across Canada applied. What would you need to know before you would take a job like this? Here are excerpts from the job posting from the CSA for the job of astronaut: The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is looking for individuals who want to be part of the next generation of space explorers. The Canadian Space Agency is seeking outstanding scientists, engineers and/or medical doctors with a wide variety of backgrounds. Creativity, diversity, teamwork, and a probing mind are qualities required to join the Canadian Space Agency's Astronaut Corps. To withstand the physical demands of training and space flight, candidates must also demonstrate a high level of fitness and a clean bill of health Astronaut Duties Astronaut trainees will train for tours of duty on the International Space Station (ISS), the largest human spacecraft ever built. Astronauts are involved in robotic operations using the Canadian remote manipulator system and regularly perform inside or outside maintenance tasks of the ISS. Astronauts must have a detailed knowledge of the ISS systems. They must also know about the equipment for each experiment on their assigned missions. Missions aboard the ISS generally last from three to six months. Training for a mission takes two to three years. This follows basic training of about one year. Travel to and from the ISS will be by Space Shuttle until its retirement in Following the Shuttle retirement, all trips to and from the ISS will be aboard the Russian Soyuz vehicle. Astronauts must meet the Soyuz size requirements. Ontario Science Centre T- 5

6 Astronaut Avatar Beside their main duties, astronauts can represent the CSA and Canada in national and international forums and public events. Basic Requirements Because astronauts are required to perform a broad range of scientific and technical work, prospective candidates must hold a University degree in one of the following areas: Engineering or Applied Sciences Science (e.g. Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Mathematics, Computer Science, etc.) The bachelor's degree must be followed by at least two years of related professional experience. Ontario Science Centre T- 6

7 Astronaut Avatar Background Information Canadians in Space As of 2009, Canada has trained 10 astronauts, 8 of which have travelled in space. All of these missions have been in Earth orbit, either on the Space Shuttle, or to the International Space Station. Canada plans to participate in future missions to the Moon and Mars. Canadian astronauts are employed by the Federal Government s, Canadian Space Agency (CSA). CSA has traditionally worked closely with the United States National Air and Space Administration (NASA). CSA also works with other space agencies around the world. The first Canadian in space was Marc Garneau. He has officially retired from the astronaut corps. Other astronauts include Roberta Bondar, Steve McLean, Dave Williams, Chris Hadfield, Julie Payette, Bjarni Trygvassen, Bob Thirsk and the newly hired (2009) Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques. Canadian astronauts have a variety of educational and work backgrounds, from medicine to engineering. Canada has a long tradition of space exploration. With the 1962 launch of the Alouette 1 satellite, Canada became the 3 rd nation in space, after the United States and Soviet Union. Space Tourism Space Tourism: Space tourism is no longer just the outlandish vision of science fiction writers. Currently it is only affordable to the very wealthy, costing $30 million a trip. However, in the near future space tourism will become a reality, offering the general public a unique adventure. From the immense thrill of looking at Earth from space to the feeling of weightlessness, space trips will offer the experience of a lifetime. Private companies in Russia, Europe and the United States are competing to become future leaders of space tourism. Even though analysts envision space tourism travel becoming more and more popular, development is a slow process. Ontario Science Centre T- 7

8 Astronaut Avatar Background Information Mission to the Moon: By the year 2020 space agencies around the world, including NASA, are planning to build a lunar outpost capable of housing teams of astronauts for 6 or more months. Building a sustainable base on the Moon will allow us to develop and test some of the technology that will be needed to send a human mission to Mars and beyond! The Moon is closer and therefore more cost-effective to visit. In unexpected situations, critical materials can be sent to the Moon in a few days compared to the months it takes to send something to Mars. By establishing a base on the Moon, we will learn what we need to be prepared for living and working on Mars. Also it will be easier to launch rockets filled with necessary resources to Mars from the Moon s lower gravity than from Earth. Finally, a Moon base will allow us to learn much more about Earth s nearest neighbor, and provide a stable airless environment for studying the Universe. Missions to Mars: Mars has held our fascination for hundreds of years. The Red Planet has the most spectacular geologic feature in the solar system with the highest mountain and largest canyon. There are mysterious dry riverbeds and Polar Caps that contain water. The scientific ramifications of a human mission to Mars are enormous. The study of the Martian geology and atmosphere conditions will not only teach us much about the future habitability of Mars but also about our own planet. By sending humans to Mars, we will be much more likely and quick to answer the question of whether there was ever life on Mars. However, there are several key challenges that humans must endure for any of the space mission scenarios: 1. Physical effects of exposure to high-energy cosmic rays and other ionizing radiation 2. Physical effects of a prolonged low-gravity environment 3. Physical effects of a prolonged low-light environment and extreme temperature differences 4. Psychological effects of isolation from Earth 5. Psychological effects of lack of community due to lack of real-time connections with Earth 6. Social effects of several humans living under crowded conditions 7. Inaccessibility of terrestrial medical facilities Ontario Science Centre T- 8

9 Astronaut Traits 1. Read the biographies of a Canadian Astronaut and select one to review in detail. 2. Using the checklist below, identify their skills and interests. The Canadian Astronaut I am reviewing is named This astronaut is interested in (select all that apply and provide details) o sports o nature o math o science o music and art o languages o computers and robots o other List three interesting things you found out about this astronaut: Ontario Science Centre S- 1

10 Astronaut Traits Student Name: Do you have what it takes to be an astronaut? Using the list below, check off the interests and skills you possess and find out what you have in common with some of our Canadian astronauts. Be honest with your answers nobody is perfect, even astronauts! I am interested in (select all that apply and provide details) Skills sports nature math science music and art languages computers and robots adventures I like solving tricky problems. I am a good listener. I like working in groups. I like working by myself. I like to be organized. I am a good leader. Learning Styles I like working with people and I m sensitive to the moods of other people. I like to build and make things. I like to read and write and take notes; I m good at explaining things to others. I like to find patterns in things; I enjoy working through math problems. I like to work alone; I can concentrate better when I m on my own. Ontario Science Centre S- 2

11 Astronaut Traits Pick two items you checked off and state why those qualities would make you a good astronaut. 1) 2) Ontario Science Centre S- 3

12 Astronaut Avatar Astronaut Portrait Astronaut Skills Astronaut Biography: Ontario Science Centre S- 4

13 Mission Selection Comparing myself to a Canadian Astronaut VENN DIAGRAM Ontario Science Centre S- 5

14 Mission Selection Select a mission using the descriptions below and the comparison chart on the next page. List your two best qualities that you feel would make you a good candidate for the mission you select. Mission 1: Trip to the International Space Station The trip to the Space Station will only take a few hours. With the Earth only 500km below, you will spend 2 weeks in orbit. The spectacular view will surely inspire the poet or artist in you. Use hi-tech lab facilities to perform experiments in weightlessness. Test various physics principles with the Toys in Space program. Mission 2: Return to the Moon The journey to the Moon will take 3 days, and then you will spend 6 months on a lunar base learning how humans can live and work beyond Earth. You will field test important equipment and technology for future Mars missions. Your work will also include mining the Moon s mineral resources. Mission 3: Voyage to Mars The trip to Mars will take 6 months. You will spend 2 years on the surface before returning to Earth. Your mission will be long and hazardous. Your job will be to search for life, study the Martian landscape and to collect weather data. Your team must be completely self-reliant and highly skilled. Ontario Science Centre S- 6

15 Mission Selection Destination Trip to the International Space Station Return to the Moon Voyage to Mars Role Space Tourist Space Pioneer Space Explorer Total trip time 2 weeks 6 months 3 years Risk Level Low Medium High Advantages Two whole weeks of experimenting and exploring the principles of microgravity using toys while floating in space. Earth is relatively close by so it will be somewhat easy to send supplies to the Lunar base or evacuate quickly in case of an emergency. Incredible opportunity to collect scientific data on another planet and learn about our solar system. Disadvantages Short Trip Harsh environment with extreme temperatures and no atmosphere. Earth is millions of kilometers away. No immediate assistance available. Danger of exposure to radiation from the Sun. Very long mission with small crew quarters. Requirements Music & Art, sports, languages, reading Computers and robots, solve problems, good listener, Math Natural Science, Technology, works well with others, organized My two best qualities are Ontario Science Centre S- 7

16 Mission Selection MY CREW MANIFEST Commander: Mission Selected: CREW NAME SKILLS/TRAITS Ontario Science Centre S- 8