Materials List: Solar Sails:
The Future of Space Travel

Each group needs:

  • 1 piece of writing paper and 1 pencil, for each student
  • cardboard tube, 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long x ~1 inch (~2.5 cm) in diameter; such as from toilet paper or paper towel rolls
  • 6-8 standard-sized Popsicle sticks (4.5-inch long x 3/8-inch wide, or 11.43-cm long x .95-cm wide); exact quantity depends on the group’s design
  • 12 inches (30 cm) of masking tape
  • 1-2 rubber bands; exact quantity depends on the group’s design
  • aluminum foil, at least a 12 x 12-inch (30 x 30-cm) square
  • 2-4 standard plastic drinking straws; exact quantity depends on the group’s design
  • scissors
  • Solar Sails Worksheet, one per student

For a testing station that all groups use:

  • 5-10 meters of fishing line, 20-50 g weight
  • 2 chairs or desks, or other solid-surface on which to tie the fishing line
  • large box fan or other strong fan
  • tape measure
  • Graphic of Solar Sail Designs, as an overhead transparency or handout
https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_space8_lesson01_activity2