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Space Station Phyve
A WebQuest for High School Physics, Astronomy
or any Math Science and Technology program.
By Mr. Richard DeRuvo
Onteora High School Physics Teacher
Email click here
'Go out beneath the stars on
a clear winter night, and look up at the Milky Way spanning the heavens
like a bridge of glowing mist. Up there, ranged beyond the other to the
end of the Universe, suns without number burn in the loneliness of space.
Down to the south hang the brilliant unwinking lanterns of other worlds
- the electric blue of Jupiter, the glowing ember of Mars. Across the zenith,
a meteor leaves a trail of fading incandescence, and a tiny voyager of
space has come to a flaming end.'
'Looking out across the immensity to the great suns and circling planets,
to worlds of infinite mystery and promise, can you believe that man is
to spend all his days cooped and crawling on the surface of this tiny Earth
- this moist pebble with its clinging film of air? Or do you, on the other
hand, believe that his destiny is indeed among the stars, and that one
day our descendants will bridge the seas of space?'
"Interplanetary Flight" - British Interplanetary Society brochure
(1938)
introduction
task
process
resources
evaluation
conclusion
credits
The Introduction
navigation
You are an up-and-coming scientist called upon to research and design
a cost efficient but fully functional space station or space colony. NASA has spent over
330 million dollars the past few months on Mars landing crafts with disastrous
results. Going to Mars and looking for water with the hopes of one-day
terreforming the red planet for colonization has become quite challenging
and costly. The government's and the public's faith in NASA has dwindled.
The proposed space station of your design will not be constructed on Mars
or any other heavenly body. You will revive old concepts of Dr. Wernher
von Braun, Gerard O'Neill, and Arthur C. Clarke involving rotating stations
with simulated gravity. You have the ability to secure NASA's future as
the leader in space exploration.
The Task
navigation
You must justify the "need" to explore space.
Identify the dangers of long term exposure to micro gravity.
You will be researching all topics involved in controlled biosphere environments
with simulated gravity.
You will design a Space Station that will simulate Earth's gravity.
Incorporate a dock from which a space shuttle can link to and launch from
the Station.
You will envision what life will be like upon your station.
Your proposal will be in the form of a Power Point presentation.
The Process
navigation
You will be assigned to a group of 3 students. The Chief Engineer will
gather and organize data as well as cite resources. The Counselor will
maintain the philosophical and ethical integrity of your mission and assure
credit to other scientists' ideas. The Captain's duties will be to make
executive decisions and delegate all other responsibilities including presentations.
Once you have chosen a role to play, you must formulate a mission statement
that justifies the human need to explore space. Make this a couple of paragraphs
long with quotes from popular and influential scientists or philosophers.
This is your argument to continue a failed exploration effort. You are
encouraged to explore the many links found at each of the web sites listed
and to explore the web using various search engines.
Explain what happens to the human body over extended periods of time and
the difficulty of performing simple tasks in a micro gravity environment.
This can be in list form but give details and examples of each.
Resurrect the ideas and visions of Dr.
Wernher von Braun, Gerard
O'Neill, and Arthur C.
Clarke involving rotating stations with simulated gravity. Organize
your thoughts and your plan. Include technical data and calculations. What
will be the diameter of your station? What will be its tangential velocity
to simulate Earth's gravity? Its period of rotation? Docking procedure?
Systems of light, heat, water, recycling, maintenance and government? Will
it orbit a heavenly body? What primary body will it orbit? Give all orbital
data.
You will not proceed through this project in a strictly linear fashion.
You will always be looking for material and information that will help
to achieve the overall mission. By exploring beyond the links provided
you make your proposal unique and most attractive. Draw your space station
on computer or paper. Include your picture in your proposal. Your proposal
will be a Power Point presentation. Include "a day in a life" (a personal
journal entry) from some future inhabitant of your space station.
Resources
navigation
Gravity and Microgravity explained.
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/research/microgex.html
How and why astronauts exercise.
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/astronauts/exercise.html
Why study microgravity?
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/space/mg_ls.html
Dr. Wernher von Braun's picture and description of his space station.
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/history/VonBraun/SpaceAge.html
2001 A Space Odyssey and Pink Floyd "Echoes" synchronized.
http://www.pinkfloydonline.com/echoes2001_setup.html
Arthur C. Clarke
http://www.lsi.usp.br/~rbianchi/clarke/
Virtual Reality tour of 2001 stations.
http://home.earthlink.net/~alprojects/2001/index.html
Gerard O'Neill's page on designs of futuristic space stations.
http://members.aol.com/oscarcombs/settle.htm
The Evaluation
navigation
Students will be evaluated individually on the performance of their
duties. The rest of your grade is based on group achievement and presentation.
Beginning
1
Developing
2
Accomplished
3
Exemplary
4
Score
Justification Statement
Weak argument with no obvious scientific
research or quotes.
Weak argument with little research and weak
or irrelevant quotes.
Strong argument with ample research and quotes.
Convincing argument with extraordinary research
and quotes.
Data,
Calculations and Innovations
Work contains mistakes and not very well
thought out.
Some good ideas but not much applied knowledge.
All questions answered with realistic numbers.
Some good ideas.
All answers well done with many innovative
ideas.
Individual
Duties and Performance
Let others do your work.
Tried but took mostly a passive role in reaching
group goal.
Solid individual effort and responsibilities
met.
Lifted the level of the rest of the group.
Presentation
Not much content and not too pleasing to
watch.
Looks good but not much there.
Includes all required material and pleasing
to watch.
Has it all and reflects mastery of material.
4-9 F
10 D
11-12 C
13-14 B
15-16 A
Conclusion
navigation
The physical and mathematical concepts discovered and utilized
in this WebQuest are not Science Fiction. The mathematics you used is a
universal language. The scientific theories and laws you have followed
are the same as those used by actual engineers. You have performed a very
realistic activity. Each participant should exit this activity with a much
greater understanding of space colonization. Hopefully you are better prepared
for what lies ahead and can make a difference.
Credits
navigation
I would like to credit my former teachers and students for all you have
taught me over the years. You have unlocked the wonderful mysteries in a
grain of sand to the forces that hold the universe together. You have helped
me see the beauty in all things great and small. May this chain of knowledge
expand out beyond our present reach to worlds that now exist in our dreams.
Peace.
Last modified March 10, 2007
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