Mars and Jupiter
Mars (top) and Jupiter (bottom).Copyright NASA http://solarsystem.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Mars&Display=Overview http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/captions/jupiter/jovian.htm
Students explore Mars and Jupiter, the fourth and fifth planets from the Sun. They learn some of the unique characteristics of these planets. They also learn how engineers help us learn about these planets with the design and development of telescopes, deep space antennas, spacecraft and planetary rovers.
Today's photographs of Mars and Jupiter are testimony to the fact that engineers have been involved in space exploration. All of our knowledge of the atmospheres of these planets was helped by the technologies developed by engineers. Aerospace engineers design airplanes and spacecraft. Astronautical engineers work specifically with spacecraft; they also design, install and test systems for space-bound equipment and ships. Mechanical and electrical engineers also work in the space field, designing and creating components, robots, instruments and computer applications that help us learn more about space. And, some engineers are astronauts!
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- List several characteristics of Mars: fourth planet from the Sun, most habitable planet for humans, called the "red planet," and it has seasons.
- List several characteristics of Jupiter: fifth planet from the Sun, largest planet, more than 60 moons, and made up of gases.
- Explain that the work of engineers makes it possible to explore the planets in space.