NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Each month, a list of resources supporting a NASA-related theme is gathered for educators. Educational materials, classroom activities, games, pictures, NASA TV broadcasts and Web sites are listed for browsing and collecting. Visit each month for new items.

This feature highlights educational products, activities, multimedia and Web sites related to this month's theme "X Is Experimental." For more than 50 years, NASA has been using X-planes to conduct flight research. The "X" designation, originally "XS" for eXperimental Supersonic, applied to a family of experimental aircraft built solely for flight research. NASA's latest research plane, the unpiloted X-43A, is listed in the Guinness World Records for its November 2004 flight. On that flight, the X-43A reached speeds close to Mach 10, breaking its own existing world record. Use this special collection of X-plane videos, classroom activities, storybooks, X-plane glider models and other materials to inspire your students.

Image to the right: A modified Pegasus rocket ignites moments after release from the B-52B, beginning the acceleration of the X-43A over the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 16, 2004. Credit: NASA

NASA TV Education Schedule
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Tune in to NASA TV the week of January 16-22, 2006, for programing related to "X Is Experimental."

NASA Educational Products

	X-Gliders In this activity students will build a glider, learn how to change its flight characteristics and conduct an experiment to answer a question. + View guide
	X1 Paper Glider Kit Investigate the basics of flight by constructing this paper model of the first supersonic aircraft. + View guide

NASA Educational Multimedia Materials

The Central Operation of Resources for Educators is the worldwide distribution center for NASA-produced multimedia materials. Education Modules for themes are bundled by topic and may include CD-ROMs, videotapes, educator guides, posters, lithographs, books, lesson plans, bookmarks, fact sheets, slide sets and activity kits.

Image to right: NASA develops multimedia resources for educators. Credit: NASA

Search words for CORE Materials: X-planes

CORE
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Follow the Theme -- Activities, Adventures and Web Sites of Interest

	Future Flight Design Future Flight Design is a Web-based interactive, problem-based learning environment. Here students in grades 5-8 learn about forces of flight and design air transportation and aircraft systems of the future. + View site		X-Plane History This page contains X-plane overviews, links to fact sheets, and photos and movies of the experimental supersonic aircraft flown at Dryden Flight Research Center. + View site
	X-Planes Flash This Flash feature is an interactive overview of experimental aircraft flown at Dryden Flight Research Center. A text version is available. + View site + Download viewer		Test Planes Storybook Students can turn the pages of this easy-to-read storybook to find out about NASA's X-planes. + View site
	NASA SCIence Files™: Faster and Faster We Go Activity This is just one of the activities provided for online problem-based learning, presented to support the show for grades 3-5 titled "The Case of the Radical Ride." + View site

X-43A NASA Goes Hypersonic
Guinness World Records recognized NASA's X-43A scramjet with a new world speed record for a jet-powered aircraft -- Mach 9.6, or nearly 7,000 mph.
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X1 - Fiftieth Anniversary -- X Programs
This Web site has X-planes movies and photos that can be used in the classroom.
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Destination Tomorrow™ Program 2, Episode 102 Retrospective
Today many planes break the sound barrier with relative ease. Not too many years ago, the sound barrier was just that, a seemingly impenetrable invisible barrier.
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Dryden Aircraft Photo Collection
This collection contains digitized photos of many of the unique research aircraft flown at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards, California. Scroll down the page to find an alphabetical listing of X-plane photographs.
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History of Flight X-15: 1960-1980 Videotape
This video examines the prominent features of the rocket-powered X-15 research airplane. It also briefly discusses how the X-15 was the forerunner to the space shuttle.
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X-1 Biographies
This site highlights the careers of the men behind the first X-plane.
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Edspace: Earth Crew News
This NASA news update features aeronautics research, including NASA's X-43A research plane.
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