Moon Landing
Big Question: How did we get astronauts to the moon?
12/3 - NASA considered 3 modes to get to the moon: Direct Ascent, EOR, and LOR. Make a list of Pros and Cons for each.
Direct Ascent uses a super large rocket to send a large spaceship to the moon that lands backwards and then comes back to earth.
Earth Orbit Rendezvous (EOR) uses 2 small rockets to take fuel and a large spaceship into Earth orbit where it is brought together and then proceeds to the moon.
Lunar Orbit Rendezvous (LOR) uses 1 rocket to take a Command Unit and small specialized lander to orbit the moon.
Warm-ups
12/7 - Opinion:
What do you think was the biggest challenge getting to the moon?
What has surprised you the most about how we made it to the moon?
12/6 - Discussion:
Make a hypothesis for how the moon became the moon.
What kind of evidence could support your hypothesis?
What test or evidence could prove your hypothesis wrong?
12/2 - Why does the moon have so many impact craters, while the Earth only has a few that we can see?
Websites
Space Travel
NOVA: To the Moon (1999) 115 mins - youtube.com - Excellent video chronicling the engineering, history and personalities that put Americans on the moon. To the Moon Companion Website - pbs.org
The Rendezvous That Was Almost Missed - nasa.gov - History of Lunar Orbit Rendezvous (LOR).
Impact Theory of Moon Formation - classzone.com - Simulation show one of the lead theory for the formation of the moon.
Lunar Regolith Breccias and Fragmental Breccias - meteorites.wustl.edu
Space Flight - evergreenmuseum.org - Air and Space museum in McMinnville. They have a real Mercury capsule!
The First Space Walk - bbc.co.uk
Lunar Lander - phet.colorado.edu - Test your skills landing the Lunar Lander with this simulation.
The impact of apollo 16's third stage booster has been found! - gizmodo.com
Space History - spacekids.co.uk - Timeline of major space travel events
Exploration Timelines - nationalgeographic.com
Chronology of Lunar and Planetary Exploration - nasa.gov - Chronologies from the one of the major sources - NASA.
Rosetta: rendezvous with a comet - rosetta.esa.int
Famous Craters
Terrestrial Impact Craters - solarviews.com
Impressive Craters on Earth - universetoday.com
Impact Crater Database - passc.net - Impact crater images.
Asteroid Impact Craters on Earth as Seen From Space - wired.com