Our mission is on an exoplanet approximately 600 light-years away from Earth. Called Kepler-22b which also was our Space camp experiment was to discover which type of structure could hold the most weight the longest on water and resist windy conditions using a hair blower in a tub of water using the materials constructed ( tinfoil, plastic container, a balloon float, popsicle sticks, and styrofoam.) Our tropical floatie was the most successful structure for withstanding the most weight because the air in floatie is less dense than the water.

This mission was chosen because our objective was to find a habitable structure on Kepler 22-b.  According to NASA’s website, water may be covering the majority of Kepler-22b “the region where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface”, so it would make sense to testify the structure on a liquid surface, The factors needed for a perfect structure is stability and how much it can hold so we tested the for stability using wind against the various structures and used weights to determine how much it can hold.

We decided to do two experiments where in the first experiment we tested which structure could hold the most weight the longest on water. 

The second experiment we tested which structure could resist windy conditions on water. 

The materials we tested were tinfoil, plastic container,a balloon float, popsicle sticks and styrofoam.

We presented information regarding the circumstances on Kepler-22b to the audience during our science fair. This improved the audience's comprehension of the choices we had to make for our experiments. 

Additionally we used knowledge from our density unit to help us understand why the balloon float was able to hold the most weight on water. For example, we learned that if an object had low density it would have a higher buoyancy. We found that the balloon float had the lowest density compared to the other structures  and we were able to conclude why the balloon float was able to hold the most weight from our experiment results.

Link to Inquiry Planner: Inquiry Planner - Shelter and Habitat

Our group's ability to stay in touch with missing members was crucial to our success. Even though a group member was missing, we were still able to finish our work and achieve our objectives. Making goals and splitting the work among group members also enabled us to complete our work before due dates.

A factor we could do differently is making a to-do list. This will help improve the amount of work we get done because it shows us things we need to finish before a due date. For example, we took a long period of time to make the 5 structures. If we used a to-do list it would have helped us finish building our structures faster because there was a visual of the things we had to finish. 

After the completion of our current experiment, and finding the answers to our scientific questions, we would definitely want to learn more about how we can live sustainably on Kepler-22B in the safest shelters available. Thus, for an experiment that future groups can consider having is to find more about the durability of different shelter shapes against weight and wind. During our background research about shelters, we came across information about the shelter shapes. For example, domes are one of the strongest shapes for a shelter as when we put pressure on the top of the shape, the pressure spreads itself out over the entire surface of the dome. This will be incredibly important as we may expect snow on Kepler-22B as the average temperature is essentially the same as Earth’s, at 15.5 degrees Celsius. In this way, we wouldn’t have to worry about the collapse of our shelter’s roofs. The aerodynamics of our shelter may also play a big role in the safety of our shelter as if we had a tall shelter, the shelter would likely be prone to tipping over against strong winds. Especially when the shelter is placed on a float, where there isn’t a stable base. With this experiment, the future groups can make a safe shelter for the migrators on Kepler-22B. 

To further relate this pitch to our experiment, future groups can conduct the test on floats, making the experiment more of a replica of the shelters on Kepler-22B. By doing the experiment on floats, it would essentially complete the exterior of the floating shelters on Kepler-22B, leaving the interior of the shelter for another group in the future. 

Firas: After completing the space camp project including the trials, Science board and Inquiry planners I have extended my knowledge more than ever. I have learned how to code a microbit from our electricity unit where we used the microbit in a circuit which idtenified as a bulb/power source. The microbit also was included in our space camp trials to count the number of rotations/spins of each structure in the tub of water.  I learned which strucucture would be the best for contruscting on the water for humans to live on kepler 22b. From the density united I knew that objects with the less dense air create a bouyancy effect which made contructing our structures way better. Finally, I Learned how to co-operate and comminicate with group members when they were sick or away and to get work finished when behind schedule. This space camp experiment was a great chance for me work with people I haven't met before and how to work with other classmates effiectively and get work done on time.

Derek: Spending a whole month on the Space Camp project really allowed me to learn more about scientific properties, as well as allowing me to develop some skillsets. By testing our different float materials, I was able to determine the best float for the floating shelters on Kepler-22B based on 2 factors: wind and weight. The previous knowledge from units that I've learned this year, as well as in the past years really helped me understand the project further. For example, through the density unit, I knew that objects with lower density are more prone to floating on the water surface. Feedback from my previous CER's and graph's enabled me to create pieces that are of great quality too. In addition, in grade 8, I learned that there are more buoyant forces when there the object covers more surface over the water surface. I also learned a lot while working with my partners. Allowing me to work with people that I'm not familiar with makes me able to organize myself in an estranged environment. In addition, they taught me a lot about collaborative work, which is really important to the success of our project. To conclude, our project was a great learning milestone for me as I learned skills an d facts that may be important to my life in the future. 

Devesh:After doing space camp, I learned various factors and skills. I learned to code micro bits and be able to use it to measure wind speed. Additionally, I learned which materials are the best to make a structure on water. I also learned to use knowledge I learned from the units we did throughout the term and apply it to my work. I learned to communicate with group members when they are absent and tell them what work they need to complete at home. A factor I would change from the start of the project was making a to-do list. If we made a to-do list our group could have completed work more efficiently and on time. In conclusion, I learned many things working with my partners which helped me to grow as a person.