Engingeering Design Challenges - The Challenges
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The Engineering Design Challenges are organized around the challenges faced by NASA engineers in developing the next generation of space vehicles, habitats and technology. Each challenge engages students in a classroom activity that leads them through the design, testing, and evaluation process used by engineers in developing new technology. These challenges are designed for the Middle and High school student.

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Thermal Protection Systems Design Challenge
(Heat and Conduction)

When spacecraft travel at high speeds through the Earth's atmosphere they generate high temperatures on their surfaces due to frictional heating. Space vehicles must have thermal protection systems (TPS) to protect them from this heat. In this challenge, students learn about the process of how NASA engineers design lightweight but effective reusable thermal protection systems. Working in two-person teams they design, build, and test a thermal protection system of their own. They use simple materials such as wood dowels, hot-melt glue, aluminum foil and copper screening to build a model that can withstand the heat of a propane torch. The models are tested under a tight protocol in order to maintain classroom safety. As a culminating activity, each team prepares a poster session documenting and summarizing their design and testing activity.

.PDF FileDownload Now! (923K) bullet Order TPS Videos bullet Thermal Protection System Kit

Spacecraft Structures Design Challenge
(Newton's Laws) The structural elements that hold together an aerospace vehicle must be strong and as light as possible in order to minimize the fuel needed to get to orbit. NASA engineers continually strive to develop new materials and methods in structural design. In this challenge, students will undertake the problem of designing a strong but lightweight thrust structure that can withstand the launch of a bottle rocket by means of a wooden lever. Using simple materials such as: craft sticks, cardboard, and hot-melt glue students strive to make their structure lighter while maintaining its' strength. The goal is to construct a launcher that can repeatedly withstand the force of launching a one-kilogram bottle of water one meter into the air. The scientific focus is on understanding forces, structures, and energy transfer.

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Electodynamic Propulsion Systems
(Electromagnetism)

Current rocket-fueled propulsion satellites are expensive to launch because of the weight of the fuel. Also, the amount of fuel that can be carried is limited to the amount of space available on the spacecraft. NASA engineers are devising a system that uses the Earth's natural magnetism to push satellites into higher and lower orbits around the plants using an electronic conducting wire or "tether". Students will try to move a model "satellite" along a track using their own design with a specific set of materials. They will explore and discover things such as the affects of wire in relation to: size, shape, strength, direction of current, and its relationship to a magnetic field.

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Centennial of Flight:
Propeller Design Challenge

(Forces and Motion)

More than one hundred years ago the Wright Brothers used a design process that is still integral to engineering design today. The Centennial of Flight Challenge focuses on the Wright Brothers' design process and their development of the "Flyer". Students are challenged, like the Wright Brothers were, to design a propeller that generates the maximum possible thrust using a small motor and other inexpensive materials. In taking on this challenge students work in teams to design, build, and test small propellers (less than 8 inch diameter) using simple, easily manipulated materials such as heavy paper and small craft sticks. They bend and fold these materials, attach them to a simple test stand, and collect data on their ability to generate thrust. Relationships in forces and motion are explored and tied to history and mathematics.

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Personal Satellite Assistant
(Forces and Motion)

This challenge is based on a new NASA technology called the Personal Satellite Assistant, or PSA. This technology is currently being developed at NASA Ames Research Center and when complete, will be a robotic assistant for astronauts while on the International Space Station. It will be able to propel itself around the microgravity environment by using small fans for propulsion and will assume many tasks, such as monitor and record air quality, temperature, atmospheric pressure, and humidity, among a list of others.

In this design challenge, students will take on a challenge similar to the one NASA engineers had to solve: they will use the forces produced by small fans to control the rotation of a horizontal, near frictionless wheel. The response of the wheel to these tiny forces is similar to objects in the microgravity environment of space. Students will be given a set of pre-determined missions to accomplish with the wheel. This challenge supports the National Education Standards: Motions and Forces, Science as Inquiry, as well as Principals and Standards for School Mathematics.

.PDF FileDownload Now! .PDF FileInternational Space Station/PSA Images bullet PSA Education Page bullet NASA Connect PSA Video

Living Off The Land:
Water Filtration Challenge
(Properties and changes of properties in matter)

The purpose of an Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) is to provide these needs when outside the Earth's biosphere. The functions of an ECLSS include: atmosphere revitalization; atmosphere control and supply; temperature and humidity control; water recovery and management; waste management; and fire detection and suppression. In this challenge, students will design, build, test, and measure the performance of a water filtration device, analyze the data collected and use this information to work towards an improved filtration design.

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Lunar Plant Grown Chamber
(Life Science, Technology)

Plant growth will be an important part of space exploration in the future as NASA plans for long duration missions to the moon. In this challenge, elementary middle and high school students design, build and evaluate lunar plant growth chambers – – While engaging in research – – and standards based learning experiences. Students participate in the engineering design process and learn how to conduct a scientific experiment.

For more information and to request cinnamon basis seeds that have flown in space on the STS-188 space shuttle mission.

NASA Engineering Design Challenge: Lunar Plant Growth Chamber