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- Do you have questions about the
Exploration Design Challenge?
Email nasaedc@nianet.org
Getting Involved -- Grades 9-12
- Register your school before you begin the challenge -- Phase. 1.
- Register your students after completing the activities and download certificates -- Phase. 1.
- Team registration -- Submit student solutions -- Phase 2.
Charting Your Journey to Mars!
In Phase 1, students will study the effects of radiation on human space travelers and analyze different materials that simulate space radiation shielding for Orion. After participating in activities guided by their teachers, students will recommend materials that best block harmful radiation.
Students can take the challenge a step further and participate in Phase 2 where they will design shielding to protect a sensor inside Orion from space radiation. The winning design will be flown in Orion during Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1).
All students that participate in either phase of the challenge can join participants from around the world to celebrate the flight test by having their names flown on board as honorary crew members. The deadline to register students for the virtual crew is March 14, 2014.
Get started. Follow the steps on this page to guide 9-12 students through activities to complete the challenge.
Please note that there are three registrations.
Overview
- Download a student scientist certificate that may be duplicated and distributed.
- Download a certificate recognizing your work as an educator guiding student scientist within the NASA EDC.
- Develop a representative team name.
- Design a mission patch or logo reflective of the team. Visit the NASA Digital Learning Network site for mission patch lessons.
› Sample NASA mission patches
› NASA DLN -- Mission Patch Design - Use the Criteria and Constraints [691KB PDF file] document to set limits for the design solution.
- Compare and analyze possible solutions.
- Include evidence of solution refinement and redesign.
- Use modeling software to design solutions.
Educators may register online for free digital 3-D modeling software that can be used with their students. - Teacher Name and Email
- School Name and 9-digit ZIP Code
- Team Name
- Student Names (first name only)
- Mission Patch or Logo Required format: JPEG, GIF, PDF or ppt. file no larger than 5 MB
- Design Project Notebook Required format: a link, PDF or ppt. file no larger than 5 MB
- Design Graphics Required: Two to five graphics that may include schematics or photos posted as a JPEG, GIF, PDF or ppt. file no larger than 5 MB
- Download a student engineer certificate that may be duplicated and distributed.
- Download a certificate recognizing your work as an educator guiding student engineers within NASA EDC.
- Evaluation Teams composed of educators, NASA and Lockheed Martin researchers, and graduate engineering students will review all design solutions submitted.
- Use the Evaluation Rubric [288KB PDF file], to guide student work.
- Conduct yourself in a responsible and safe manner at all times.
- Follow all written and verbal instructions carefully. If you do not understand a procedure or how to use a tool, ask your teacher before proceeding.
- Keep your work area clean at all times.
- Use proper safety protection, i.e., gloves, goggles, proper clothing.
- Notify your teacher in an emergency.
The NASA Exploration Design Challenge for grades 9-12 offers two phases of involvement for teachers and students. Teachers may choose to complete one or both phases with students.
Phase One -- Think Like a Scientist
Phase One encourages students to learn about Orion and challenges them to think like scientists to solve problems associated with human exploration. Activities and interviews with Orion scientists, engineers, and researchers set the stage for inquiry learning as students ask questions and seek answers about Orion, human exploration, space radiation, and the technology to protect humans during long-duration space flights.
Phase Two -- Solve Problems Like an Engineer
Phase Two challenges students to follow the engineering design process and work in teams to design radiation shielding to protect a sensor on the Orion crew module from space radiation.
Once designs have been completed, teams may compete for the chance to build their design and have it flown on the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Five teams will be selected for the test phase of the challenge.
Teams not selected to test their designs are encouraged to return to the NASA Exploration Design Challenge website frequently to watch the "Ask the Experts" videos, get updates via news articles, and explore other resources as they are added to the website. The NASA EDC website will be updated to reflect the status of Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 and announce the flight date for all virtual crewmembers.
Additional activities in the Resources section may be completed to strengthen student understanding about radiation and the effects of radiation on humans. These activities include inquiry explorations, hands-on activities and interactive simulations.
Note: Participation in Phase Two of the NASA Exploration Design Challenge is limited to U.S. citizens.
Phase One: Think Like a Scientist
Phase Two: Solve Problems Like an Engineer
Email nasaedc@nianet.org
Phase One -- Think Like a Scientist
Phase One encourages students to learn about Orion and challenges them to think like scientists to solve problems associated with human exploration. Activities and interviews with Orion scientists, engineers, and researchers set the stage for inquiry learning as students ask questions and seek answers about Orion, human exploration, space radiation, and the technology to protect humans during long-duration space flights.
Phase Two -- Solve Problems Like an Engineer
Phase Two challenges students to follow the engineering design process and work in teams to design radiation shielding to protect a sensor on the Orion crew module from space radiation.
Once designs have been completed, teams may compete for the chance to build their design and have it flown on the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Five teams will be selected for the test phase of the challenge.
Teams not selected to test their designs are encouraged to return to the NASA Exploration Design Challenge website frequently to watch the "Ask the Experts" videos, get updates via news articles, and explore other resources as they are added to the website. The NASA EDC website will be updated to reflect the status of Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 and announce the flight date for all virtual crewmembers.
Additional activities in the Resources section may be completed to strengthen student understanding about radiation and the effects of radiation on humans. These activities include inquiry explorations, hands-on activities and interactive simulations.
Note: Participation in Phase Two of the NASA Exploration Design Challenge is limited to U.S. citizens.
Phase One: Think Like a Scientist Register to Participate in Exploration Design Challenge
Register schools before beginning the NASA Exploration Design Challenge. Registration is free and easy.
1. Click on the registration link. You will be taken to a National Institute of Aerospace website to complete the registration.
2. Fill in the requested information. Your school will be added to the NASA EDC Participation Map.
Exit NASA to Register
› Register School →
Step 1: Introduce the Design Challenge
A. Use the following Student Scenario to introduce students to the NASA Exploration Design Challenge for grades 9-12.
Step 2: Use Inquiry to Develop Student Understanding
A. Choose lessons from the Space Faring -- The Radiation Challenge Unit to increase students' understanding of radiation and its impact on humans. Select videos from the "Ask the Experts" videos to answer student-generated questions. Dedicate the time to this work that best matches curriculum standards and student interest.
B. Students will apply what they learn about radiation in Phase Two to design solutions for the NASA EDC.
Step 3: Register Students for the Virtual Flight Crew by March 14, 2014
A. Once students have completed Step 2, please register them so they may join other students around the world as honorary, virtual crew members on the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). You will be taken to an NIA website to complete the registration.
By completing the registration, students' names are added to a list of all students participating in the NASA EDC. The list of names will fly on the inaugural Orion EFT-1 as honorary, virtual crew members. The virtual crew will be the only crew flying on EFT-1. Students must be registered by March 14, 2014, to join the virtual crew.
B. After completing registration:
Exit NASA to Register
› Register Students →
Register schools before beginning the NASA Exploration Design Challenge. Registration is free and easy.
1. Click on the registration link. You will be taken to a National Institute of Aerospace website to complete the registration.
2. Fill in the requested information. Your school will be added to the NASA EDC Participation Map.
Exit NASA to Register
› Register School →
Step 1: Introduce the Design Challenge
A. Use the following Student Scenario to introduce students to the NASA Exploration Design Challenge for grades 9-12.
When astronauts travel through space, the space vehicle protects them from the micrometeoroid particles, which usually can be seen, and space radiation, which cannot be seen. One of the most difficult things to block is space radiation, and it is also the most deadly. For long space exploration missions, traveling beyond low Earth orbit, materials used to build the spacecraft will need to give the space explorer more protection from space radiation than what is currently provided.B. Encourage students to ask questions about Orion and the challenges explorers will face traveling to Mars by viewing one or more of NASA's "Ask the Experts" videos found on the NASA EDC website.
NASA and Lockheed Martin are developing the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle. Orion will serve as the exploration vehicle that will carry the crew to space and protect them during space travel beyond low Earth orbit.
Step 2: Use Inquiry to Develop Student Understanding
A. Choose lessons from the Space Faring -- The Radiation Challenge Unit to increase students' understanding of radiation and its impact on humans. Select videos from the "Ask the Experts" videos to answer student-generated questions. Dedicate the time to this work that best matches curriculum standards and student interest.
B. Students will apply what they learn about radiation in Phase Two to design solutions for the NASA EDC.
Step 3: Register Students for the Virtual Flight Crew by March 14, 2014
A. Once students have completed Step 2, please register them so they may join other students around the world as honorary, virtual crew members on the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). You will be taken to an NIA website to complete the registration.
By completing the registration, students' names are added to a list of all students participating in the NASA EDC. The list of names will fly on the inaugural Orion EFT-1 as honorary, virtual crew members. The virtual crew will be the only crew flying on EFT-1. Students must be registered by March 14, 2014, to join the virtual crew.
B. After completing registration:
Exit NASA to Register
› Register Students →
Phase Two: Solve Problems Like an Engineer Important Deadlines:
Jan. 14, 2014 -- Student teams register for Phase 2 and submit solutions
Feb. 14, 2014 -- Students in Phase 2 test designs
March 14, 2014 -- Students in Phase 2 build designs
Step 1: Build Collaborative Teams
A. Organize teams of 2-6 students. Teams may include one undergraduate student currently enrolled in a university or community college to serve as a mentor for the high school students. Consider recruiting a recent graduate from your school in an engineering program or a student from an engineering club at a nearby university.
B. To build a collaborative team, guide each team through these two tasks.
Step 2: Design
Help teams set up a Design Project Notebook to document their work. Use the Middle School and High School Design Packet [620KB PDF file] to help teams organize their Design Project Notebook. Include student work, brainstorming, discarded ideas and opportunities for reflection on the design process. The notebook should include a section documenting what the students learned throughout their experience. Specific criteria are listed in the Evaluation Rubric [288KB PDF file]. A link to or files for this notebook must be provided when teams submit their design solutions.
Step 3: Post Designs -- Deadline: Jan. 14, 2014
A. Submit each team's design solution by completing the Team Registration no later than Jan. 14, 2014. Following this date, educators are encouraged to use the NASA EDC resources and challenge scenario. They should note that student designs submitted beyond this date will not be considered for the NASA EDC competition.
B. Go to the team registration page hosted on the National Institute of Aerospace website.
C. Complete the required fields:
D. Post the following artifacts for each team:
Exit NASA to Register
› Register Team →
Step 4: Test –- Deadline: Feb. 14, 2014
A. The five finalist teams will be matched with a mentor from NASA's Langley Research Center. Radiation experts will assist the team in testing their design.
B. The winning team will be announced Feb. 21, 2014.
Step 5: Build –- Deadline: March 14, 2014
A. The winning team will build their radiation shield prototype to fly on the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Additional criteria and constraints will be provided to guide this work. Sensors and a $500 materials stipend will be provided by the NASA EDC team.
B. The NASA EDC team will connect the winning team with mentors in their geographic location to support this work.
C. The prototype must be completed by March 14, 2014.
Step 6: Launch -- Tentatively scheduled for September 2014
A. All five teams participating in the test (Step 4) will be invited to attend the inaugural launch of Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
B. The most successful design solution will travel onboard ETF-1 at the discretion of Lockheed Martin. The team creating the winning prototype will be honored as the NASA Exploration Design Challenge winning team and will be given a travel stipend to offset costs associated with travel to the EFT-1 launch. The other four teams will not receive a travel stipend.
*Please note that the timeline from design to launch spans two academic years. The design must be completed by Jan. 14, 2014. The five finalist teams will be selected to test their designs by Jan. 31, 2014. One design will be built by March 14, 2014, and may fly on EFT-1 scheduled for a September 2014 launch.
The five finalist student teams may not be students in your class by launch date, so arrangements may need to be made to support the team(s) to attend the launch.
Safety in the Educational Classroom and Laboratory
Safety is an important goal for all curricular areas of education. Safety issues are a special concern for STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities and courses. Many national and state academic standards address the need for schools and subject areas to promote student development of knowledge and abilities in a safe learning environment.
It is the responsibility of the school's administration for providing a learning environment that is safe, up-to-date and supportive of learning. Additionally, teachers are responsible for their students' welfare in the classroom and laboratory.
Teachers must be knowledgeable and diligent in providing a safe learning environment. Students should receive safety instructions relevant to the topics being taught. Assessments must accompany the lessons on safety, and records must be kept on student results. The teacher must properly supervise students while they are working. The teacher must inspect and maintain equipment and tools to ensure they are in proper working condition. Parents should be informed about the subject in which their child is enrolled and should be educated about the safety plan that is being used. The teacher should develop a safety checklist to assure safe conditions exist and procedures are being followed in the classroom and laboratory.
Safety Rules:
Below are examples of safety rules that may be used. Teachers should develop their own safety rules to fit the needs of their classroom.
Do you have questions about the Exploration Design Challenge?Jan. 14, 2014 -- Student teams register for Phase 2 and submit solutions
Feb. 14, 2014 -- Students in Phase 2 test designs
March 14, 2014 -- Students in Phase 2 build designs
Step 1: Build Collaborative Teams
A. Organize teams of 2-6 students. Teams may include one undergraduate student currently enrolled in a university or community college to serve as a mentor for the high school students. Consider recruiting a recent graduate from your school in an engineering program or a student from an engineering club at a nearby university.
B. To build a collaborative team, guide each team through these two tasks.
Step 2: Design
Help teams set up a Design Project Notebook to document their work. Use the Middle School and High School Design Packet [620KB PDF file] to help teams organize their Design Project Notebook. Include student work, brainstorming, discarded ideas and opportunities for reflection on the design process. The notebook should include a section documenting what the students learned throughout their experience. Specific criteria are listed in the Evaluation Rubric [288KB PDF file]. A link to or files for this notebook must be provided when teams submit their design solutions.
Step 3: Post Designs -- Deadline: Jan. 14, 2014
A. Submit each team's design solution by completing the Team Registration no later than Jan. 14, 2014. Following this date, educators are encouraged to use the NASA EDC resources and challenge scenario. They should note that student designs submitted beyond this date will not be considered for the NASA EDC competition.
B. Go to the team registration page hosted on the National Institute of Aerospace website.
C. Complete the required fields:
D. Post the following artifacts for each team:
Exit NASA to Register
› Register Team →
Step 4: Test –- Deadline: Feb. 14, 2014
A. The five finalist teams will be matched with a mentor from NASA's Langley Research Center. Radiation experts will assist the team in testing their design.
B. The winning team will be announced Feb. 21, 2014.
Step 5: Build –- Deadline: March 14, 2014
A. The winning team will build their radiation shield prototype to fly on the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Additional criteria and constraints will be provided to guide this work. Sensors and a $500 materials stipend will be provided by the NASA EDC team.
B. The NASA EDC team will connect the winning team with mentors in their geographic location to support this work.
C. The prototype must be completed by March 14, 2014.
Step 6: Launch -- Tentatively scheduled for September 2014
A. All five teams participating in the test (Step 4) will be invited to attend the inaugural launch of Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
B. The most successful design solution will travel onboard ETF-1 at the discretion of Lockheed Martin. The team creating the winning prototype will be honored as the NASA Exploration Design Challenge winning team and will be given a travel stipend to offset costs associated with travel to the EFT-1 launch. The other four teams will not receive a travel stipend.
*Please note that the timeline from design to launch spans two academic years. The design must be completed by Jan. 14, 2014. The five finalist teams will be selected to test their designs by Jan. 31, 2014. One design will be built by March 14, 2014, and may fly on EFT-1 scheduled for a September 2014 launch.
The five finalist student teams may not be students in your class by launch date, so arrangements may need to be made to support the team(s) to attend the launch.
Safety in the Educational Classroom and Laboratory
Safety is an important goal for all curricular areas of education. Safety issues are a special concern for STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities and courses. Many national and state academic standards address the need for schools and subject areas to promote student development of knowledge and abilities in a safe learning environment.
It is the responsibility of the school's administration for providing a learning environment that is safe, up-to-date and supportive of learning. Additionally, teachers are responsible for their students' welfare in the classroom and laboratory.
Teachers must be knowledgeable and diligent in providing a safe learning environment. Students should receive safety instructions relevant to the topics being taught. Assessments must accompany the lessons on safety, and records must be kept on student results. The teacher must properly supervise students while they are working. The teacher must inspect and maintain equipment and tools to ensure they are in proper working condition. Parents should be informed about the subject in which their child is enrolled and should be educated about the safety plan that is being used. The teacher should develop a safety checklist to assure safe conditions exist and procedures are being followed in the classroom and laboratory.
Safety Rules:
Below are examples of safety rules that may be used. Teachers should develop their own safety rules to fit the needs of their classroom.
Email nasaedc@nianet.org
Radiation Experiments on the International Space Station
Orion
-
Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle
Orion will carry the crew to space and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities.
› Orion Home Page
› Orion Paper Model
NASA EDC Participation Map
Resources
-
Space Faring: The Radiation Challenge Unit
Radiation biology examines the effects of radiation on living systems. The lesson plans in these units are hands-on investigations that encourage the use of science, mathematics, engineering, technology, problem-solving and inquiry skills.
-
NASA Mission Patches →
For every spaceflight, the astronaut crew designs a mission patch. The names of the crew are usually incorporated into the design along with elements that describe different phases of that particular mission.
-
NASA Digital Learning Network -- Mission Patch Design
Schedule this DLN activity to guide teams as they design mission patches.
-
Exploring Magnetism Lesson Series →
These seven guides about magnetism contain activity- or mathematics-based lessons on magnetic fields. The guides are designed for grades 6-8 and 9-12. The materials were developed following NASA science missions: STEREO-IMPACT, RHESSI, THEMIS and FAST.
-
The Ritter Experiment From Cool Cosmos →
Perform a version of Johann Wilhelm Ritter's experiment of 1801 in which ultraviolet light was first discovered.
-
The Herschel Experiment From Cool Cosmos →
Perform a version of astronomer Sir Frederick William Herschel's experiment of 1800 in which a form of radiation other than visible light was discovered.
-
Detecting Ultraviolet Light Using Tonic Water →
This activity demonstrates a simple method for demonstrating the presence of ultraviolet light using tap water and tonic water.
-
Radiation Math Educator Guide (Grades 6-12)
Use mathematics to discover the mysteries of radiation and how it affects humans.
-
NASA eClips™ Real World: Space Weather
This NASA video segment looks at space weather and examines the major ramifications space weather can have on Earth.
-
NASA's Teaching From Space -- Space Life Sciences
The NASA Space Life Sciences education website contains resources on living organisms in the space environment. Visit the topic sections for more information, and return to the website often for news on space life sciences research.
-
NASA's Human Research Program
The Human Research Program conducts research and develops technologies that allow humans to travel safely and productively in space.
-
Mysterious Cancer
Researchers agree that space radiation can cause cancer. They're just not sure how.