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NASA eClips™

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Use these educational video segments to inspire and engage students.

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Do-It-Yourself Podcasts

DIY Podcast

Create your own podcast with NASA video and audio clips.

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NASA Student Ambassadors

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NASA has inducted more than 80 high-performing interns into a new virtual community.

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    Mission Control Center Series

    NASA has used the space shuttle for human transport, the construction of the International Space Station, or ISS, and to research the effects of space on the human body. One of the keys to the success of the Space Shuttle Program is the Space Shuttle Mission Control Center, or MCC. Within the Space Shuttle MCC, teams of highly qualified engineers, scientists, doctors, and technicians, known as flight controllers, monitor the systems and activities aboard the space shuttle.

    Students will learn how these flight controllers use math and science everyday as they support pre-flight, ascent, flight and re-entry of the space shuttle and the crew.

Calculus

  • Space Shuttle Auxiliary Power Units

    Space Shuttle Auxiliary Power Units

    This problem focuses on the MMACS flight controller. Students learn about one of his/her duties in monitoring the Auxiliary Power Units of the space shuttle. Students will apply various calculus concepts including an application of related rates. The focus is on interpretation of the derivative as a rate of change.

  • Space Shuttle Guidance, Navigation, and Control Data

    Space Shuttle Guidance, Navigation, and Control Data

    This problem focuses on the GNC flight controller. Students learn about the state vector that the GNC flight controller monitors and is introduced to the coordinate system that is used in tracking the space shuttle. Students will analyze a table of data to generate parametric functions.

Physics

  • Space Shuttle Orbital Docking System

    Space Shuttle Orbital Docking System

    The space shuttle docks and undocks with the International Space Station with the help of the space shuttle’s orbital docking system. This system uses both torsional and compression springs to damp out the energy as these two vehicles essentially collide in space.

  • Space Shuttle Landing

    Space Shuttle Landing

    This problem focuses on the MMACS flight controller, who monitors the data associated with the landing and deceleration procedures of the space shuttle. Students will apply equations of motion, force, work and energy and graphically interpret real data.

  • Space Shuttle Short Circuit

    Space Shuttle Short Circuit

    This problem focuses on the EGIL flight controller, who monitors the electrical systems, fuel cells and associated cryogenics of NASA's space shuttle. Using a circuit layout from the space shuttle, students will apply Ohm's law to solve for unknowns.

  • Space Shuttle Roll Maneuver

    Space Shuttle Roll Maneuver

    This problem focuses on the GNC flight controller and on the engines used to control the attitude of the space shuttle. Students will apply integration techniques to evaluate impulse and angular momentum and will evaluate the rotational kinematics, torque and energy associated with a roll maneuver.

  • Space Shuttle Launch Motion Analysis

    Space Shuttle Launch Motion Analysis

    This problem focuses on the FDO flight controller and on the ascent of the space shuttle. Students will use integration techniques as they analyze an acceleration-time graph to determine velocity and displacement.

Biology

  • Respiration in Space Flight

    Respiration in Space Flight

    This problem focuses on the EECOM flight controller, who monitors the gas concentrations and pressures with the space shuttle cabin. Students are introduced to the space shuttle's CO2 removal process and will analyze respiration rates and metabolic activity from graphical data provided. They will relate gas production/consumption to respiration/metabolism and evaluate the physiological impact of changes in O2/CO2 concentrations to various human systems.

  • Microgravity Effects on Human Physiology: Circulatory System

    Microgravity Effects on Human Physiology: Circulatory System

    This problem focuses on the Flight Surgeon and his role in keeping astronauts healthy before, during, and after flight. Students will examine the effects of gravity on the evolution of form and function in the human circulatory system and will connect space biology and related medical pathologies on Earth.

  • Skeletal System

    Microgravity Effects on Human Physiology: Skeletal System

    This problem focuses on the Flight Surgeon and his role in keeping astronauts healthy before, during, and after flight. Students will apply their knowledge of feedback mechanisms and homeostasis and will evaluate the physiological impact of bone mineral loss to various human systems.

Chemistry

  • Space Shuttle Propulsion System

    Space Shuttle Propulsion System

    This problem focuses on the PROP flight controller and his/her duties in monitoring the propellant for the RCS and OMS engines of the space shuttle. Students will identify the geometric structure, hybridization, and bonding of molecules and evaluate characteristics of reactions to determine the behavior.

  • Cryogenic Storage

    Cryogenic Storage

    This problem focuses on the EGIL flight controller, who monitors the electrical systems, fuel cells and associated cryogenics of NASA’s space shuttle. Students will find volume of gases using the ideal gas law and will create and interpret a phase diagram to explain a real world problem involving the space shuttle.

  • Fuel Cell Generation

    Fuel Cell Generation

    This problem focuses on the EGIL flight controller, who monitors the electrical systems, fuel cells and associated cryogenics of NASA’s space shuttle. Students will find mass and molar ratios of reactants through stoichiometry and use half reactions to determine standard cell potential.

  • Carbon Dioxide Removal - Stoichiometry

    Carbon Dioxide Removal - Stoichiometry

    This problem focuses on the EECOM flight controller, who monitors the gas concentrations and pressures with the space shuttle cabin. Students apply the Ideal Gas Law and Stoichiometry to determine the number of canisters and mass of LiOH required to remove the CO2.

  • Carbon Dioxide Removal - Thermodynamics

    Carbon Dioxide Removal - Thermodynamics

    This problem focuses on the EECOM flight controller and students are introduced to the space shuttle’s CO2 removal process. They will apply several concepts and equations of thermochemistry as they analyze this situation.

Career Profiles

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    So You Want to Work for NASA...

    This resource page provides information about some of the careers NASA has to offer and the opportunities available for students.

Exploration Interactives

NASA Students on Facebook

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    Join Now  →

    NASA has a Facebook page specifically for high school and college students. Updates are posted daily featuring competitions, internships and more.