What Is a Satellite? What features will you add to make your creation safe as it travels in space? Oct 9, 2014 - One of the things we do a lot of at NASA Goddard is build satellites. Setting up telephone wires over long distances or underwater is difficult and expensive. NASA and other international organizations keep track of satellites in space. Those at Mars will ultimately help NASA determine the best locations for future human exploration and Mars bases. Conduct a shake test by holding the satellite bus and rapidly moving it horizontally back and forth between the 0 cm and 16 cm marks on a Here is a GPS Tracker reference design from ST which implements a smart vehicle tracking system based on GPS/GSM/GPRS.A vehicle unit gathers GPS information such as location coordinates, time, date, speed, in-journey distance travelled and satellites fixed, and sends the data over GPRS to a remote web server application where it can be viewed on a map. * Weather satellite, Metop: MetOp is a series of three polar orbiting meteorological satellites operated by the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) Each group should make a short presentation explaining the functionality of their satellite and the outcomes of the quality assurance review. They likely followed steps similar to those in the. Satellite engineers just out of school may enter the workforce as junior-level associate engineers. Cut the cardboard up into squares and circles stick them onto the skewers and stick the skewers into the pumpkin or melon … All satellites orbit a celestial body. Sometimes these instruments point toward Earth to gather information about our land, air and water. Instruct teams to commence brainstorming about the design of their model, completing the mass table on their worksheet and sketching their ideas. Here's how to make the satellite.Follow the steps:- take the foil paper or foil tape cut it in a pizza shape paste the foil paper or foil tape on a circular shape.paste it to a circle cardboard. Gravity measurements can give scientists clues about the density of the various materials the satellite is flying over. Let me know how you make out. * Solar panels: to generate electricity Why Don’t Satellites Crash Into Each Other? Suggested teacher questions to spark discussion: Aluminum foil will give the cardboard craft an authentic touch, and the piece can then be attached to the top of the playhouse. This will be the receiver antennae for your satellite. Local scrapyards, shops selling second-hand TV equipment and online auction sites such as eBay are good places to buy the parts you need. Do this for 15 seconds. The instrument teams must work with the main satellite design team to ensure instruments are the right mass, fit correctly and sustain environmental testing. Instruct teams to choose team names appropriate to the project. * Antennas and transceivers: to send and receive radio signals to and from the Earth or another satellite They encourage students to stay on campus longer, foster school pride and social interaction, and result in more successful outcomes. But orbits can change over time. The two most common types of orbit are ‘geostationary’ (jee-oh-STAY-shun-air-ee) and ‘polar’. * Telecommunications, Artemis: An artist’s impression of Artemis. Most have at least two parts in common, an antenna and a power source. “Build a Satellite” NASA/JPL Edu | jpl.nasa.gov/edu Pair up with another team to evaluate each other’s satellites by completing the Quality Assurance Form (next page). Use a small dab of white glue on the toothpick to secure. The antenna sends and receives information, often to and from Earth. This is the GOES-N satellite. satellite dish Image courtesy of Boguslaw Malański. This is because they fly above the clouds, dust and molecules in the atmosphere, which block certain wavelengths of light from reaching the ground. Low-gain antennas often look like short flag poles and communicate at a low data rate. Explain that a lot of vibration occurs during launch and their satellite models must be able to pass a shake test upon build completion to verify that they will survive launch. For this activity, students will simulate vibration testing only. When students are finished building their satellites, ask them to present it to the class explaining its components, functions, and use. Ok, maybe they won't be life-sized, but some of these paper models are pretty … ), including at least three science instruments, two of which deploy (pop out or unfold) upon release from the rocket fairing after launch. This model will be used to demonstrate the potential detrimental effects of the shake test. A satellite orbits Earth when its speed is balanced by the pull of Earth’s gravity. Explain that their satellite must include all the main parts of a satellite (main bus, communication antenna, power systems, etc. Students will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of their model satellite and describe the importance of building models. If you have a GPS receiver, these satellites can determine your exact location. The version here is a medium-sized catapult powered by a rubber band, and is meant to be built using materials you can find around the house. A cardboard satellite can easily be made using some spare materials you may already have on hand. Some take pictures of Earth to help meteorologists predict weather and track hurricanes, while others take pictures of other planets, the Sun, black holes or faraway galaxies. Now all I have to do is find enough time to build my own ground station. Once the design is approved, have teams construct their satellite model. Tasos Vossos How to Make Homemade Pyramids Out of Foam. ", › Explore more on the Teachable Moments Blog, Oatmeal canister or mailing tube to simulate the rocket fairing size constraint, Metric or standard ruler (one per team for shake testing), Images of satellites with components labeled – Download Cassini Diagram | Mars Odyssey Diagram, (Optional) NASA’s Eyes on the Solar System, An assortment of building materials, especially recycled or “found” materials, such as: Aluminum foil, cardboard, paper tubes or cardstock/manila folders to roll, construction paper, index cards, toothpicks, dowels or popsicle sticks, glue or tape, clay dough, buttons, pony beads, transparent copies of graph paper (to cut for solar panels), small cereal or other boxes, water bottles, string for hanging completed model (if desired). A - Body of the satellite Close the body of the satellite. Once construction is completed, have teams pair up and complete the quality assurance form by examining the spacecraft for size and component compliance and conducting a shake test. A satellite receiver dish When you watch TV, the satellite dish focuses the transmissions from the satellite … Make Magazine 24: Space released in Oct. 26, 2010 included the article: Making Your Own Satellites by Chris Boshuizen, who described how to "build … Learn about artificial satellites and their appearance, orbits, functions, and importance in our daily life. Making phone calls to faraway places were also a problem. Explain that students need to decide the satellite function, how a satellite would need to look or be constructed, and what type of orbit it would need to serve its function. * How is it important to the society? Mars satellites currently employ solar power. A satellite is an artificial object that is deliberately sent into orbit in space, usually in order to send, receive or bounce back information to different areas of Earth.. For example, Earth is a satellite because it orbits the Sun. Emphasize that design sketches are informal and do not have to be highly accurate. in this video, I am going to show you How to make a satellite model with cardboard. Social, or “sticky,” spaces are key to building a sense of place on satellite campuses. The point is not whether you can build, but whether you can conceive and outline an idea that is worth building in the first place. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech, Diagram of the parts and science instruments on NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft. But we do have a good idea now of the pros and cons (see panel). - iron wire - glue Explain that the total simulated mass of the science instruments, communication antennas and power systems must be no more than 60 kg. Ask students to discuss the process they followed while designing and constructing their satellite models. * Fuel tanks: to store fuel for the rocket (Click image to return to the previous illustration) Landers make observations on their landing spot and do more in-depth science at one location. Satellite instruments can provide detailed maps and images of surface features that help engineers and scientists decide where to land the next rover or lander. Design and build your own spaceship, space station or satellite. NOTE: If you don’t have access to the videos, you can start the activity by discussing the topics from the background information. Developing and using models, Communicating information, Interactive Lecture, Discussion Groups, Modelling, Communications, Orbital Mechanics, Remote sensing, http://sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Satellites/Sci-Media/Video/Parts-of-a-satellite, http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-a-satellite-58.html, http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/space/satellites.html. VEX) to build a new Mars Rover ; Design, Build and Code a Satellite with working sensors (see Ardusat) Build and Launch Matchead Rockets (teacher supervision) Plan out a new Deep Space Spacecraft - Destination, Design, Sensors, etc. Satellites carry instruments (sometimes called “detectors,” “probes,” or “sensors”) to make their observations. The United States government created the system, maintains it, and makes it freely accessible to anyone with a GPS receiver. Satellites also can see into space better than telescopes on Earth’s surface. Building something like this, for this amount of money, simply wouldn’t have been possible even a couple of years ago. Additional environmental testing, including thermal and acoustic testing, is also conducted on spacecraft. A CanSat is a man-made satellite prototype the size of a can of soda. - coloured paper Show the video ‘What are Satellites?’//youtu.be/54MSV2B399o. High-gain antennas are parabolic in shape and generally communicate at a higher data rate. Bring the class back together to present satellite models and findings from environmental tests. TV signals didn’t go very far before the advent of satellites. Review the quality assurance worksheet with the class. Satellites, fly-by or orbiting spacecraft, explore the features of a planet from a distance, making observations of large swaths of the planet. Explain that their finished product, just like a real satellite, must fit inside a rocket fairing (represented by the oatmeal canister or mailing tube) for launch. But did you know that you can build your own versions of many of these missions? Have students make repairs and retest satellite models as needed. If they had more time, what would they do differently? Discuss the basics parts of a satellite and show the video ‘Parts of a Satellite’ http://sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Satellites/Sci-Media/Video/Parts-of-a-satellite Highlight the most important parts: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-a-satellite-58.html, Satellite Facts for Kids: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/space/satellites.html. Satellites come in many shapes and sizes. The teacher may specify which planet for unity or allow students to choose their own planet for variety. Occasionally, Mars spacecraft use radioisotope thermoelectric generator power sources. Spectral analysis, or the study of the light emitted or reflected by various surface materials, can be used to characterize surface materials. At the end of the activity, the students will make a satellite and explain the function of their satellite. Jon W2JON - "I am currently in the process of replicating your awesome project to work the birds with my 10-year-old son. Instruct students to have their final sketched design approved by the teacher. The Solar Panels need to move to be able to track the sun. Antennas commonly used are low-gain antennas and high-gain antennas. Radar can provide information about surface features by way of reflectivity, and it can also penetrate the ground to determine subsurface features such as cracks and voids. * What are the strengths and limitations of this model satellite? With satellites, TV signals and phone calls can be sent up toward a satellite and almost instantly bounced back to different locations on Earth. The questions don’t necessarily need to be answered. Use a Robotics kit (ex. ... How to Build a Model of a Roman Home for a School Project. Students will be able to explain what satellites are, what they look like, their function, and their importance in society. The University of New Mexico is looking for undergraduate students who are interested in learning to design, build and launch small satellites. Encourage students to be creative. - tape That is so cool. Sometimes mountains or tall buildings would block them. His University-Class Spacecraft resource page provides an extensive tabulation of university satellite projects. This activity is related to a Teachable Moment from January 2018. "The school has been open for 10 months, so we are still learning. - scissors How to Make a Model Satellite. Electricity: identify common appliances that run on electricity. My parents bought me a paper back book that had paper templates inside which you were supposed to cut out and build into a model satellite. Students are prompted to discuss why it is useful to build models. Choose one of the decadal goals for Earth observing, heliophysics, astronomy, or planetary science, and design a mission concept to fulfill that task using a small satellite platform—NASA SMEX or smaller. Ask students to discuss the impact of the constraints of this project. Polar-orbiting satellites travel in a north-south direction, from pole to pole. The teacher could explain that a way to help investigate the answers to such questions is to build a model. Shake the satellite model by moving it rapidly back and forth over a distance of 15 cm. - toilet roll In the first project you can see for yourself how geostationary orbits work. The goal is to include as many science instruments as possible in order to achieve the most science return (as noted by “science value” on the student worksheet). Slide the solar array into the two slots you cut in the body of the satellite, with their blue face towards the interface ring D and the white face towards the instrument B. Provide each student (or a group) with materials to build an artificial satellite. Each type of robotic explorer has its merits and is used for different purposes depending on the planet being observed and the types of observations desired. These pictures help scientists better understand our Solar System and universe. This lesson focuses on satellites, orbiting observatories that provide global context and inform future lander and rover missions. Jessica Begum How to Make a Styrofoam Pyramid. Using the sharp point of scissors, make a small hole in the backside of the box (between solar panels and lens) and insert toothpick with bottle cap attached, this time angling the toothpick as it is inserted. If it fails this test, the satellite must be redesigned. Read about how we use cookies. James Holloway How to Scale to Size. Explorer 1 Anniversary Marks 60 Years of Science in Space. Likewise, the Moon is a satellite because it orbits Earth. Most satellites are launched into space on rockets. Glue flaps A-3 to the inside of the satellite's body. NASA sends three types of robotic explorers into our solar system: satellites, landers and rovers. Their final design should be represented in a reasonably accurate two-view sketch on the student worksheet. Discuss the similarities and differences between natural satellites such as the Moon and human-made satellites such as GPS, communications, weather and planetary exploration satellites. Using 4 … As Earth spins underneath, these satellites can scan the entire globe, one strip at a time. Encourage students to be creative. Building a catapult for a school project is a fun way to explore history and physics. This is the coolest model building I’ve ever seen. The Global Positioning System (GPS), a key navigation tool, is a group of more than 20 satellites. Encourage students to sketch their initial design ideas in their engineering journals. * Why is it useful to build models? Break the yardstick into two even halves. Move at a rate of approximately 30 cm/s, so each back and forth movement will take one second. - buttons or other decoration materials, Videos: (optional) https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/build-a-satellite Explain that students need to decide the satellite function, how a satellite would need to look or be constructed, and what type of orbit it would need to serve its function. Once a satellite is built, it is tested for its ability to sustain the vibrations of launch. The price includes the satellite's transportation into orbit aboard an Interorbital-owned rocket. Making a toy prop like this on your own can save costs over purchasing a similar item from a toy store. Each instrument is designed, tested and assembled by different teams of engineers and scientists. See "Explorer 1 Anniversary Marks 60 Years of Science in Space. This is a fun space activity for students that will challenge their design and building skills as well as their general knowledge of space. From Earth, a geostationary satellite looks like it is standing still since it is always above the same location. * What aspects of a satellite does the model represent well, and what can be improved? - plastic cups A NASA vibration test is conducted on a shake table, a device to which the satellite is attached and shaken back and forth, simulating the forces that will be encountered during launch. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech, Diagram of the parts and science instruments on NASA's Cassini spacecraft. Thousands of artificial satellites orbit Earth. Make a Spaceship. Earth and Space: the idea of the Earth’s rotation. Students are asked to explain what satellites are, what they look like, their function, and importance in society. The Earth and Moon are examples of natural satellites. Building the Solar Panel Chassis. The … The type of orbit is chosen according to the job the satellite is there to do. This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. Students successfully build their model satellite, and are prompted to describe the different components of their satellite. Solar panels make power by turning sunlight into electricity. Use a poorly-built simple model of a satellite that will suffer some damage during the shake test. Once you've put it all together, put the IP address into a browser and it should load a screen … The main bus can be of any shape and contains the primary electronics and computer modules for the spacecraft. * Batteries: to store the electricity generated * Research, Hubble space telescope: This illustration shows the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope in its high orbit, 600 kilometres above Earth. - small carton At other times, they face towards space to collect data from our Solar System and universe beyond. In order to encourage student design, do not use a fully built satellite model. This enables them to collect more data quicker than instruments on the ground. Collisions are rare because when a satellite is launched, it is placed into an orbit designed to avoid other satellites. * How could we improve the model? Solar power systems are often used for spacecraft at Mars because Mars is close enough to the Sun to make solar collection efficient. Get a pumpkin or melon and some kebab skewers and cardboard. Materials (per satellite): Choose what science your satellite will be used to study, and then decide what wavelengths, instruments, and optics will help you learn the most about the science you've chosen. When I was a child I used to build model rockets and satellites. Determine the Math behind using GPS Satellites In February 2009, two communications satellites - one American and one Russian - collided in space. TA-DA. It's a school in an authority, run with the authority, for the authority's children." Instead, consider using a model that has only one component attached, such as the solar panels. * Navigation satellite, GPS: The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based navigation system that provides location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. At the end of the lesson, the students will know what artificial satellites are, how they look, about their orbits, their functions, and how many there are. The power source can be a solar panel or battery. These missions inform future exploration. All robotic explorers have some parts in common, including the main bus (body of the spacecraft), a communications antenna and a power system. * What can we learn from this model? It, and other projects like it, show the power that new tools like software defined radios (SDR) and 3D printers are putting into Maker hands. They are especially useful for communicating with Earth from a long distance. Show students images of satellites from the materials list or from, Explain the main parts of a human-made satellite and point out examples: main bus, power system, science instruments, communication antennas. Most satellites orbiting Earth, however, are used for communication, such as beaming TV signals and phone calls around the world. By building a satellite using household materials, students learn about artificial satellites, their functions and importance to society. * On-board processors: to provide processing capabilities to the satellite. NASA and its international partners operate several Earth-observing satellites that closely follow one another along the same orbital “track.” This coordinated group of satellites is called the A-Train and its near-simultaneous scientific observations play a key role in advancing our knowledge of Earth science and applying it for the benefit of society. Provide each student (or a group) with materials to build an artificial satellite. And the chances of a crash increase as more and more satellites are launched into space. Each mission gathers data that inspire more questions — questions scientists hope to answer using scientific instruments on board robotic explorers. Students will build their own model satellite to recognise the components and engineering challenges of building satellites. - skewers Satellites orbit Earth at different heights, different speeds and along different paths. It moves in the same direction and at the same rate as Earth’s spin. - aluminium foil My kid is chomping at the bit to get into some satellite and we are even building our own arrow style antenna. Step 6: Whoa. In astronomy, the word ‘satellite’ usually refers to a machine launched into space to orbit the Earth or another space object. Satellites are often involved in all these cases and play an important role in daily life. So, You Want to Build a Satellite: Part One, So, You Want to Build a Satellite: Part Two, Build Your Own GOES-R Weather Satellite Using LEGO Pieces, Article for Kids: Tres pequeños satélites que viajan a cuestas, Interactive for Kids: Juega a Satellite Insight, For related resources in Spanish, see the. Each component can be represented by the simulated mass measurements noted on the student worksheet. Billions of people around the globe watch television, surf the internet, use phones, and use maps or navigation systems. - Amy’s Aviation: What are satellites?//youtu.be/54MSV2B399o If they had a larger mass allowance, how might that impact their satellite design. The system provides critical capabilities to military, civil and commercial users around the world. Carrying three payloads plus a number of experiments, ARTEMIS (Advanced Relay and Technology Mission Satellite) tests and operates new telecommunications techniques. Encourage classroom discussion by asking questions. Actually, they can. How to make a satellite model. A satellite is an object (e.g., Moon, planet or machine that orbits a planet or star). A vibration or "shake" test was performed on the Curiosity Mars rover while at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, to make sure the rover could withstand its bumpy ride to Mars. Satellite instruments can also perform a variety of science experiments including spectral analysis, gravity measurements and radar observations, just to name a few. "Our experience also enables us to firm up on the concept of a satellite school.