Build Yourself a Mars Spacesuit (Katie Robinson)

Author(s)

Katie Robinson El Habr, 7th & 8th, CHIME Charter

(NOTE: I have not yet done this with my students, I am hoping to try it in January/February 2018)

NGSS Engineering Standards

NGSS Engineering Standards

PROBLEM - Create a space suit that can support a human working and living on Mars.

DESIGN - Complete a possible design of the structure of a space suit and what functional pieces must be present on the suit. The suit should be able to allow the astronaut work outside of the facility for up to 12 hours. The suit must allow for movement they might experience in the day, for example bending over, picking up samples, what happens if a person falls, etc.

OPTIMIZATION - Allow students to present their ideas to their peers. Allow time for students to share their feedback and make changes to their designs based on the feedback.

Materials needed

Students may bring in own supplies.

IF students are just brainstorming possible suit ideas, please allow them the following:

Poster Paper

Markers

IF students are building a prototype suit*, please allow them the following:

Scissors

Various types of fabrics (felt, cotton, etc) in many colors

Needles and thread OR hot glue guns and glue sticks

*Encourage students to bring in supplies from home.

Procedure (adapted from NASA)

Here is a PDF if you prefer.

Questions

• Does the color of the suit matter? Why or why not?

The color of the suit should matter. As Mars is further away from the sun, it receives less heat. The average temperature on Mars is -80 F (-60 C). Therefore, humans would need to be protected from the outside climate at all times. Therefore, suits should be darker in color to absorb as much solar energy as possible.

• Compare and contrast the needs of a suit for the Moon and for Mars.

Answers Vary: Sample: The moon is less massive than Earth or Mars so the suit would need to support the astronaut in lower gravity environment, possible by adding more mass to the suit. However, the lack of (or minimal) atmosphere would require the suit to keep the astronaut warm. Also both suits would need places to put instrumentation.

• What are key features that a spacesuit needs to have in order to help a person survive in an alien environment?

Answers may vary. Let students brainstorm. Sample: Having breathable oxygen is the most important as without a person would die quickly. Also it has to be warm in order to protect the person from extreme temperatures.

Movies

References

Mars Spacesuits: Building a Blue-Collar Suit for the Red Planet