Lesson 2: Space Suits - PDF document

FOGE Grade 3 Lesson 2: Space Suits 1 The Federation of Galaxy Explorers Grade 3 | Lesson 2 Space Suits Key Questions What they will explore today What types of space suits are there? How do space suits work? Note to Mission Team Leaders Feel free to modify the presentation below according to the interests of your group of Galaxy Explorers! Remember that the goal here is to stimulate imaginations and interest, rather than completely describing all aspects of s pace suits. Have fun! Objectives What students should be able to know/do by the end of this lesson ▪ Students will understand the different clothes that astronauts wear in space ▪ They will understand why space suits are necessary and how they function Vocabulary Key and/or tricky words used extravehicular mobility unit (EMU), micrometeoroids, extravehicular activ ity (EVA), manned maneuvering unit (MMU), neutral buoyancy simulator Materials Needed ▪ a set of the “Astronaut Figures and Space Suits” copied on cardstock paper (one set for every participant) ▪ scissors (one pair for every participant) ▪ colored pencils or markers (enough to go around – optional) ▪ glue (enough to go around – optional) ▪ a screen or a projector (optional – only needed if you plan to show any of the images or videos FOGE Grade 3 Lesson 2: Space Suits 2 linked in the Resources section at the end of this lesson) Introduction Open by discussing the following questions with the whole group: What kind of clothes would you wear if you were inside a space station or shuttle? What are some special clothing needs that you would have? Introduce the key questions that you're going to explore today: What types of space suits are there? How do space suits work? Preassessment What do they already know about this topic? What do they want to know? Discuss these two questions with th e whole group: What if you were going outside the station, into space? What special clothing needs would you have? How would your space suit meet those needs? Their answers to these questions will give you an idea of what they already know. Presentation Note: An alternate script you could use is the short NASA article “What Is A Spacesuit?” which is appended to this lesson plan. Outline 1. Temperatures inside and outside the space station 2. Clothing inside the space station 3. Clothing outside the space station 4. Practicing with the space suit in water Script While on orbit in the space station, astronauts dress to live comfortably and work safely in the environment of space. Inside the station, the temperature is between 18.3 and 32.2 degrees Celsius (65 and 90 d egrees Fahrenheit) with a relative humidity between 30 and 50 percent. Outside the station, FOGE Grade 3 Lesson 2: Space Suits 3 temperatures vary from - 100 Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius ( - 148 to 248 degrees Fahrenheit). Each astronaut is outfitted with the clothing needed for the work that is to be done during his/her 90 day mission. All the crew members have clothing for cooking, cleaning, relaxing, and sleeping inside the space station. The astronauts that work in the laboratory module with manufacturing, experiments, or science activities , have the clothing needed for that job, too. They also have safety goggles and rubber or fire - retardant gloves. Most of the time, the crew wears slipper socks, but they also have tennis shoes and boots. Some of the crewmembers must work outside the space station and they have clothing to protect themselves. The complicated space suit worn outside the space station is called an extravehicular mobility unit (EMU). This suit provides correct air pressure, temperature, oxygen, drinking water, food, and electri cal power. It also protects the astronauts from micrometeoroids. Micrometeoroids are tiny objects (natural or manmade) that are in orbit around the planet thousands of miles per hour. A hit from one of these fingernail size objects could kill an unprotecte d astronaut or disable a spacecraft. Astronauts aboard the space station use improved EMU space suits when they go outside to build, repair, and resupply the station; check experiments; or fix satellites. The suits have many layers of materials, and it is very difficult to work while wearing them. Outside the station on an extravehicular activity (EVA), the crewmember must wear the EMU and MMU (manned maneuvering unit) equipment that weighs 148 kilograms (about 326 pounds). On Earth, the space suit (EMU) weighs 113 kilograms (about 250 pounds). To practice on Earth, the astronauts work in a huge tank of water called a neutral buoyancy simulator . This simulator helps the astronaut learn to work while wearing the stiff, bulky suit. Scientists can float the astronaut and the equipment so that they can practice the tasks they will do when they are working aboard the space station. After 90 days, the space station crew will p repare for the arrival of the new crew. Each astronaut will complete his/her chores, pack up, and get ready to go home. They will put on their flight coveralls for the return trip to planet Earth. Activities Each mission team member will choose an astronaut and dress him or her for the work to be done. PROCEDURES Instruct participants to choose two of the following four scenarios, and dress their two astronauts accordingly. You can read them aloud (they are al so in the handout): 1. An astronaut is going outside the space station to repair a satellite. Find the astronaut and the clothes he or she will need. Cut out each piece of clothing and equipment. Now dress the astronaut. 2. One astronaut has time off from work, and is going to look out the window and take FOGE Grade 3 Lesson 2: Space Suits 4 photographs. Dress this astronaut. 3. One astronaut will be working in the laboratory. This astronaut will check an experiment. What will he or she wear? Dress this person for work. 4. It is the last day of the 90 - da y tour of duty. One astronaut is getting ready to return to Earth. What will this person wear? Dress this astronaut. (Optional) Mission team members may wish to color the clothing provided for each astronaut. The space suit and the underwear are white. Spa ce clothing is usually white, light blue, or navy but Mission Team members may select their own colors. Circulate among the participants, discussing their choices and their reasoning behind them, and troubleshooting as needed. When all students are finished with at least one astronaut, have them write their name on the back and display each astronaut at a place you have designated – a stand, a board, or a table. Recap A chance to summarize and check for understanding So, to come back to our essential question: What types of space suits are there? And how do they work? Why is it important that astronauts have the right kind of space suits? Extensions Optional homework or next steps Build your own spacesuit costume Mission Team Members who are particularly interested in this topic could work with a parent or guardian to build their own spacesuit costume from one of the many tutorials available online. Standards Correlations to educational standards Not done yet. They will make connections to the Next Generation Science Standards, and possibly other current educational standards . Resources For building background or for further exploration FOGE Grade 3 Lesson 2: Space Suits 5 ▪ NASA Clickable Spacesuit – This interactive webpage lets students learn more about the purpose of each piece of the spacesuit. www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/spacesuits/home/clickable_suit.html ▪ Evolution of the Spacesuit – NASA has this qualit y slideshow of the spacesuit’s history. www.nasa.gov/externalflash/spacesuit_gallery/ ▪ Spacesuits Pinboard – The “ Suited for Space” traveling exhibit, by the Smithsonian Institute, has its own information - rich board of spacesuit images on Pinterest. www.pinterest.com/sitesexhibits/spacesuits/ ▪ Suited for Space video playlist – The same Smithsonian exhibit has a well - curated collection of short videos about space suits. You may want to pick one or two to show to the group. www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1B854263CE76EC34