Space Travel
Figure 1. The Solar SystemCopyright National Aeronautics and Space Administration, StarChild http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/Images/StarChild/solar_system_level2/solar_system_small.gif
Students are introduced to the historical motivation for space exploration. They learn about the International Space Station as an example of space travel innovation and are introduced to new and futuristic ideas that space engineers are currently working on to propel space research far into the future!
Space travel is made possible by engineers. From mechanical engineers who design the components for spacecraft to biomedical engineers who design ways to care for astronauts' health while traveling in space, people from almost every discipline of engineering work together to further space exploration.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Identify potential reasons why people want to travel to space.
- Describe how different types of engineers each contribute to space travel.
- Give examples of what the future may hold for space travel.