space:uk - Summer 2015, Issue 43

This edition of the magazine from the UK Space Agency includes:

• The launch of the Earth Observation satellite, Sentinel 2A
• News about the Rocket (salad) Science experiment
• Tim Peake's training for his mission to the International Space Station
• The launch of the International...

Introduction to VEX Robotics (Mars rover)

In this full scheme of work, designed for a series of two-hour double-lessons, students develop a Mars Rover for NASA based on a standard VEX design. They learn about the components of a robotics system including control units and data communications, and work through a design process towards a prototype. The VEX...

Career Profiles

This resource provides careers profiles for two young people working in the space industry: Jonathan Scott - Team Lead for the Medical Project and Technology Team in the Space Medicine Office at The European Space Agency’s European Astronaut Centre Jennifer S. - Biomedical Engineer Flight Controller for the...

Computers and maths in space

Mathematics plays a vital part in space flight, it gives us a way both to predict what should happen in the future and also ways to measure what’s actually happening in the present, and adapt to it. In this resource we look at a few places where maths helps in space flight. The maths is made simple here (it’s far,...

Design a Thermal Protection Shield

Aerospace engineers need to take into account the heat generated when the space craft move through the atmosphere at extreme speeds, both during launch and at re-entry, as without proper thermal protection the space craft could be destroyed. Insulating blankets, foams and tiles are used to protect the spacecraft....

Extremes of Temperature

This resource looks at extremes of temperature on the Earth, and inside and outside the International Space Station. Students must find data, draw bar graphs and perform conversions from Fahrenheit to Celsius.

Preparing for Space

For the g-forces activity pupils will be able to discuss how astronauts use forces to simulate the effect of launch and landing on their bodies, when preparing to go into space. The pupils look at the forces on a ball at the end of a piece of elastic and discuss the forces on an Astronaut in a centrifuge. For the...

Smart Materials

This resource includes examples of real technologies which can be used as inspiration to children from age 7 to 16. Following on from the challenges that Tim Peake and his clothing will face in space, these case studies include background information for teachers, supporting Powerpoint slides, and example...

Space to Earth Astronaut Training

Tim Peake is a European Space Agency astronaut. This resource gives background to Tim’s training leading up to his mission in 2015/16 to the International Space Station. Tim is shown in survival training, in the swimming pool training for microgravity, and in the centrifuge at the European Astronaut Centre to...

Space, Sports, Sun and Safety

This resource contains eight projects:

1. Using UV sensitive beads and sun cream to investigate the effects of ultraviolet radiation.

2. The aim of this activity is to encourage the students to come up with their own investigations, to explore how exposure to UV radiation varies in different countries...