Learning modules for the Space Teams Labs program.
Module 1: Planetary Science
| Activities | Content |
|---|---|
| Space Science Lesson | Learn about the universe, solar system, planets and other astronomical objects. Basic concepts about formation, atmospheres, gravity, radiation, and composition. |
| Planetary Builder Tutorial | How to build a planet using SpaceCRAFT. |
| Build Your Planet | Each student creates and explores their own planet. |
Module 2: Spacecraft Design
| Activities | Content |
|---|---|
| Spacecraft Design Lesson | Learn how to design a spacecraft. What are the systems? Basic concepts of power systems, life support, guidance/control, thermal management, and propulsion. Engineering design process and critical decision making. |
| Spacecraft Design Tutorial | How to build an interplanetary ship using SpaceCRAFT. |
| Build Your Spacecraft | Student design their own interplanetary ship. Artificial Intelligence provides feedback and guidance. Higher scores are obtained by minimizing weight while achieving all the mission objectives including the deliver of enough hardware to assemble the surface habitat. |
Module 3: Orbital Mechanics
| Activities | Content |
|---|---|
| Orbital Mechanics and Remote Sensing Tutorial | Learn about the motion of the planets and space travel. How do you get around the solar system? Once at a destination, what can you learn by studying a planet from Space. Basic concepts of orbital mechanics, trajectory design, and remote sensing using spacecraft instruments. |
| Orbit Designer Tutorial | How to design an interplanetary trajectory from Earth to other planets using SpaceCRAFT. |
| Plan Your Flight | Design interplanetary trajectory to reach Vulcan, establish an ideal orbit for scanning the planet for resources. Minimize fuel use while achieving an optimal scanning orbit to get the most points. |
Module 4: Atmospheric Entry & Landing
| Activities | Content |
|---|---|
| Spacecraft Entry, Descent & Landing Lesson | Learn about how spacecraft control their flight in Space and in planetary atmospheres. How does a spacecraft differ from an airplane? Basic concepts of aerodynamics and flight control, flight instruments, atmospheric entry and landing. |
| Spacecraft Landing Tutorial | How to fly your spacecraft to a safe landing on the planet Vulcan. |
| Plan Your Flight | Students depart from their interplanetary ship and fly the lander into the Vulcan atmosphere to a safe landing at their desired landing coordinates. Using guidance cues and flight instruments they can obtain higher scores depending on the precision of their approach and accuracy of their landing. |
Module 5: Habitat Construction
| Activities | Content |
|---|---|
| Habitat Design Lesson | Learn about how to design a habitat that can support human life on another world. What systems do you need? How to use resources from the planet to support life? Concepts of space system architecture, designing for the local environment, protection from radiation and other hazards, utilizing local resources for sustainability. |
| Habitat Builder Tutorial | How to build your own habitat for long-term life support and surface operations using SpaceCRAFT. |
| Build Your Habitat | As a team, students use SpaceCRAFT to create their own surface habitat on Vulcan. Artificial Intelligence helps to guide their work by giving them feedback on their design. Habitats that can support the crew for longer durations while minimizing the mass delivered to the surface from Earth will achieve higher scores. |
Module 6: Surface Operations
| Activities | Content |
|---|---|
| Surface Exploration Lesson | Learn about planetary rovers, tele-robotics, and EVA (extra-vehicular activity). How do you perform scientific exploration on a new planet? What do you hope to find? What kind of measurements do you take? How do you study samples? What resources might you be looking for and how would you extract and utilize them? Basic concepts of mission operations on a planetary surface for purposes of science and resource utilization. How does your exploration results impact the sustainability of your habitat? |
| Exploration Tutorial | How to conduct your robotic and EVA exploration using the tele-operation station, holo-table and EVA sample analysis probes. |
| Explore Vulcan | As a team, explore the region around your habitat and identify resources that can be used to extend the life of your habitat. Use rovers and EVA crew members to gather data while competing with other teams to find the most resources. The winning teams will achieve a sustainable design with enough resources to support the crew as long as possible, or indefinitely. |