Get Me Off This Planet
Students investigate rocket launchesCopyright Image by SpaceX-Imagery from Pixabay
https://pixabay.com/photos/rocket-launch-spacex-lift-off-693192/
Accessed August 8, 2020
The purpose of this lesson is to teach students how a spacecraft gets from the surface of the Earth to Mars. Students first investigate rockets and how they are able to get us into space. Finally, the nature of an orbit is discussed as well as how orbits enable us to get from planet to planet — specifically from Earth to Mars.
Aerospace engineers play an important role in the design of rockets for space exploration. These engineers must have a thorough understanding of Newton's third law of motion — or else the rockets would not leave the Earth's surface! Engineers are also experts in the concepts of thrust and specific impulse, so they are able to design efficient rockets. Engineers also lead the research that has resulted in the three primary rocket types used in space applications: chemical rockets, electrical rockets and cold gas rockets.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Describe how a rocket must overcome the forces of gravity and drag in order to get out of the atmosphere.
- Explain that thrust is the force created by a rocket.
- Describe how an orbit is the balance of gravity and an object's tendency to follow a straight path.
- Explain some challenges that engineers face in getting a rocket to Mars.