The Space Program at Berkeley Springs High school is a "hands-on" activity that challenges students to think "outside of the box" as they design and conduct experiments at high altitudes. Students develop a better understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to prepare for the world in which we live.
Below are some of the activities/investigations that have been done. Many of the activities could be placed in more than one category because they are all interrelated.
Science
Science
- Use real data to evaluate properties of the atmosphere.
- Explore current weather prediction techniques.
- Make weather forecasts.
- Use meteorological data to make decisions about the launch.
- Determine how extreme temperatures might affect the components.
- Do experiments in a vacuum to determine the behavior of hand warmers at low pressures.
- Do experiments to determine the "best" time interval to use for the time-lapse camera.
- Do experiments to determine battery life at low temperatures.
- Do experiments to determine if the memory card capacity will be great enough to save the data for the entire flight.
- Monitor "space" weather and determine how electromagnetic storms might affect the electronics.
- Write formal lab reports.
Technology
Technology
- Use spreadsheets to create graphs, display trendlines, display equations, and determine correlation coefficients for atmospheric data.
- Understand and use GPS.
- Use APRS to track the balloon.
- Use a data-logger to collect temperature, pressure, humidity and altitude data.
- Use computer simulations to predict the trajectory, burst altitude, landing site, and time of flight for the balloon.
- Use a digital camera to capture pictures of the Earth at high altitudes.
- Design an experiment to measure radiation levels during the flight.
- Determine advantages and limitations of various tracking devices and methods.
- Use a radiation detector and a data-logger to measure radiation levels at high altitudes.
- Produce a movie about the project.
Engineering
Engineering
- Design and build the payload container.
- Determine the "best" string length and location of the items for the payload train.
- Design and build a device to inflate the balloon.
- Design a map of how everything will be laid-out at the launch site.
- Use a satellite map to determine information about the landing site. (trees, field, water, roof, road, ...)
- Develop a method to tie the balloon.
- Design and build a radar reflector.
Mathematics
Mathematics
- Make conversions between metric and English units for the projection software and spreadsheet activities.
- Determine the dimensions and mass of each material.
- Calculate the amount of lift needed to obtain desired ascent rates, descent rates, and burst altitudes.
- Use measurements to determine if the payload meets the FAA guidelines.
- Use statistics to analyze the data from the data-logger.