This document provides an overview of the basics of space and the space shuttle. It discusses the history of rocketry, how the shuttle gets into space using complex engines and propellants, the environment of space and how NASA replicates conditions on Earth, how orbits work based on principles of gravity, and what must occur for the shuttle to return to Earth through re-entry and landing. A variety of hands-on activities and experiments are suggested to help students learn about these concepts.

1. Science
SPACE BASICS

2. Science
SPACE
BASICSThe Basics of The
Space Shuttle
Learn about:
1.The history of Rocketry.
2.How the Shuttle gets into space.
3.The Shuttle in orbit: physical laws
and environmental concerns.
4.What must occur to return to Earth.

3. Science
SPACE
BASICS
The History of Rocketry
Use cooperative learning to:
• Research the history of space.
• Create a timeline to reflect this.
• Discuss the following:
What were the driving forces for early
rocketry discoveries?

4. Science
SPACE
BASICSRecent History
How did those early objectives
change as the race for space
exploration developed?
What have the changes in objectives been in
recent history?
What uses do you see for the space shuttle for
future missions?

5. Science
SPACE
BASICSThe Space Shuttle:
An Engineers Viewpoint
Assign engineer teams to:
Investigate the engines used by the Shuttle.
Investigate the propellants used by the Shuttle.
• What specific propellants are used?
• What size is the engine used?
• What are the reasons and concerns that surround
these choices of engines and propellants?
• What safety features are implemented?

6. Science
SPACE
BASICS
Engines and Propellants
Assign students a “Think, Pair, Share”
style of Cooperative Learning to discuss
briefly the need for the complex
engines and propellants used by the
Shuttle and the dangers involved with
this mixture.

7. Science
SPACE
BASICS
Where is the Shuttle Orbit?
Have cooperative groups construct a paper
model of the graphic illustrated in the video.
Complete with:
• sea level
• Mt. Everest
• airline travel heights
• the two shuttle orbit heights
Have students re-create this as close to scale as possible.

8. Science
SPACE
BASICS
Staying in Space is
Not That Easy
Weather and environment are important concerns
in space.
Use online data…
Compare the “weather” outside the shuttle (go to NASA’s
website to get data) to that outside your school building
today;
• Temperature High / Low
• Humidity
• Barometric Pressure

9. Science
SPACE
BASICS
The Environment On
Earth
Use websites, books, and other modules
to research the elements of our
atmosphere on earth.
What elements must be replicated to insure
the astronauts survive?

10. Science
SPACE
BASICS
The Environment On
Board The Shuttle
Create a poster project explaining what
elements are important to humans and
why.
Have students design a skit explaining how NASA re-
creates Earth conditions in space.

11. Science
SPACE
BASICS
Staying In Orbit
Compare Sir Isaac Newton’s ideas on
gravity with Aristotle’s beliefs.

12. Science
SPACE
BASICS
Freefall Or Orbit?
Compare the phenomenon of freefall
with that of orbiting.

13. Science
SPACE
BASICS
Weightlessness
• Write a fictional short story about your
experience with weightlessness.
• Brainstorm the effects of weightlessness.

14. Science
SPACE
BASICS
The Speed Of Orbit
How has travel changed in the last 150 years?
What scientific inventions have helped this progress?
Jigsaw modes of transportation
in mankind’s history.
Conclude with how this progress
set the stage for space travel.

15. Science
SPACE
BASICSProblems Created By
Orbiting
Have students discuss the following:
• How would astronauts need to adjust their sleep
patterns? Why?
• What daily routines would astronauts need to keep?
• What special adjustments would need to be made to
accommodate “normal” life aboard the Shuttle?

16. Science
SPACE
BASICS
Gravity And Weightlessness
Divide students into lab groups:
• Discuss the effects of gravity on Earth.
• Discuss the effects of gravity in space.
• Perform lab experiments on gravity.

17. Science
SPACE
BASICSLab Ideas
• There are a lot of gravity experiments
on the web.
• • Stop the video and view the module
titled “Toys in Space” for creative
labs.

18. Science
SPACE
BASICSReturning To Earth
Use a model to demonstrate to the students
what it looks like when the Shuttle slows down
to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.
Discuss:
• How the Shuttle slows down.
• What happens to the trajectory of the Shuttle.
• What happens upon re-entry.
• How the Shuttle is landed.

19. Science
SPACE
BASICS
Space Basics
It takes a lot of power to push the orbiter
through the atmosphere and into space.
The Orbiter has to go very fast to stay in space.
In order to return to Earth, the Orbiter must
slow down and allow gravity to pull it out of orbit.
Happy Landing.