Project Launch

Importance of a Good Launch

A quality project launch event is an essential component of project management. Here are some reasons why a quality project launch event is important:

In essence, a well-curated Project Launch event is a linchpin in Project-Based Learning, steering the project towards its envisioned horizon.


Official Project Launch

NASA Expert Steven Smith

The Project Launch is crucial as it helps students emotionally connect to the project's purpose through initial activities like data collection and discussions. Post-launch, a class meeting reviews the work and clarifies tasks before students begin independent work. This process facilitates deep conversations among students, engaging them in meaningful inquiry and fostering excitement towards the learning journey ahead​.

Recording of Launch

The lecture was a comprehensive discussion on the challenges and considerations of space travel, particularly to Mars. The speaker, Steven Smith from NASA, introduced the Artemis missions' purpose: to return humans to the moon as a stepping stone for future Mars exploration. He highlighted five key areas of concern when planning long-term space travel: food, water, shelter, communication, and public health. 

Launching Dreams: The Power of Expert Insights in Project-Based Learning

When the world of K-12 education intersects with real-world expertise, magic happens. It is a strategy that is not new, but one I rely on time and time again because it works. This strategy was used to launch a new project when Steven Smith from NASA joined several classrooms for a Project Launch for a new learning project, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. Here's a look into this session and the opportunitiess it offered.

 

The Power of Expertise: 

Steven Smith's insights transported the audience from the familiar confines of their classrooms straight into the vastness of space. His presentation went beyond mere facts, weaving in the challenges, aspirations, and intricacies of space exploration. Such engagements not only demystify complex subjects but also demonstrate their tangible and immediate relevance. More importantly it creates intrigue, new thoughts, and most importantly lots of new questions to explore.

Career Connections: 

Through his journey, Smith painted a vivid picture of the myriad career paths available within the space industry. It's not just about being an astronaut; it's about the engineers, scientists, communicators, and countless others who make these missions possible. His experiences serve as a gateway for students, illuminating potential career trajectories they might not have previously envisioned.

Launching Projects with a Bang:

The energy and curiosity following Smith's presentation was powerful. So many great table conversations, new ideas, and confirmations of current ideas students are pondering. By introducing students to real-world complexities at the outset, educators can set the stage for a deeply engaged and inquiry-driven project. An expert-led launch can act as a catalyst, sparking questions, debates, and a thirst to delve deeper.

Challenges & Goals:

Smith's discourse shone a light on the multitude of challenges of space exploration. From managing lunar dust and ensuring astronaut survival during extended missions to creating sustainable lunar habitats, the hurdles are numerous. However, with challenges come goals. The most ambitious of these is NASA's Artemis missions, aiming to use the moon as a stepping stone for future Martian exploration. And this is where students will begin to think of problems and solutions to these areas of survival building off prior knowledge of ancient Egypt and non-fiction text of the present day.

Surprising Takeaways:

Two major revelations stood out. First, the sheer difficulty of all of these space missions in today's context - with the odds stacked against astronaut survival due to factors like radiation and isolation. Second, NASA's commitment to diversity, with plans to land the first woman and person of color on the moon by 2025, heralds a new era of inclusive space exploration.


Conclusion:

Steven Smith's enlightening session underscored a crucial educational tenet: real-world experts breathe life into the curriculum. Their narratives, experiences, and insights offer students a panoramic view of the world beyond textbooks, bridging theory and practice. In the realm of project-based learning, such interactions aren't just beneficial—they're transformative. The Artemis Project is a prime example of how NASA is pushing the boundaries of space exploration and inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers.


Additional Thoughts

Emerging Patterns: Several themes emerged from the conversation:

 

- A move towards sustainability in space, considering aspects like food, water, shelter, and energy.

- The critical role of public health systems, from waste management to illness prevention, for long-term space habitation.

- NASA's unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion.

- The pivotal role of technological innovation in surmounting space travel challenges.

 

Key Moments: Memorable quotes from the session encapsulate the essence of the discussion:

 

- From Steven Smith:

·      "NASA is really focused on something called the Artemis missions…these are missions that are going to the moon." "The reason that we're going to the moon…is to learn how to go to Mars."

·      "So we're going back to the moon…we're gonna build infrastructure…because we're gonna be going back."

·      "We have tall and short people, we have men, women… So we need a much broader range of sizes to accommodate our wider range of crew members."

·      "Having multiple people think about the same problem is actually a really good idea."

 

Follow-Up Discussion Questions:

 

- How does the Artemis Project differ from previous space missions?

- How do the challenges highlighted by Smith compare to those faced in early space missions?

- What implications do the considerations around public health systems in space have for our health systems on Earth?

- How can technological advancements in space exploration benefit other sectors?

 

Next Steps for Educators:

 

Research Activities:

 

- Dive deeper into the Artemis Project and NASA's broader vision for space exploration.

- Explore the technological advancements that have made current space missions possible.

 

Discussion Activities:

 

- Stimulate debates on the ethics and implications of space colonization.

- Encourage group discussions on the sustainability of long-term space habitation.

 


Resources To Explore

 

Here is a high-quality list of online resources for students to begin exploring and learning about NASA's Artemis missions:

 

1. NASA Learning Resources for Students Grades 5-8: This website offers a range of STEM topics and experiences for students in grades 5-8, including resources related to the Artemis missions. Students can explore the thrill of exploration and discovery through various activities and lessons.

2. Join Artemis - NASA STEM Resources: This website provides information on how to join the Artemis mission to the Moon. Students can make, launch, teach, compete, and learn through various activities and resources. The website also offers a free online course about NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate.

3. NASA at Home: For Kids and Families: This website offers a range of resources for kids and families to learn about NASA science and exploration. Students can find formal lesson plans, amazing imagery, and stories about how science and exploration are lifting our world.

4. Next Gen STEM For Educators - Learning Resources - NASA: This website offers K-12 lessons and activities that help students understand NASA's Artemis missions to the Moon. Students can learn about the ground, transportation, exploration, and communication systems NASA plans to use to make a return of a human presence near and on the Moon possible.

5. What Is the Artemis Program? (Grades 5-8) - NASA: This article is specifically designed for students in grades 5-8. It provides information on NASA's new lunar exploration program, which includes sending the first woman and first person of color on the Moon. Students can learn about the new technology NASA will use to study the Moon in new and better ways and prepare for human missions to Mars.

6. NASA Kids' Club: This website offers a range of games, activities, and resources for kids to learn about NASA and its missions. Students can play games, do hands-on activities, watch videos, and read stories about space and earth science.

7. Science Friday: This website provides hands-on activities for students to learn about the Artemis mission. Using official NASA resources, students can build their own SLS rocket prototype, design an Orion spacecraft to orbit the Moon, experiment with ways to deliver a lunar lander to exactly the right spot, and learn to identify the Moon’s natural structures so they can navigate the surface 

8. Minecraft Education: This website offers an Artemis mission module for Minecraft Education Edition. Students can explore Newton’s Laws to design and launch a rocket, use code to navigate the Orion space capsule, and work as a team to build a survival base on the moon – meeting scientists along the way 3.

A few more sites based on conversation with Steven that might be interesting for students to explore

NASA’s Artemis program is a robotic and human Moon exploration program led by the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) along with six major partner agencies— the European Space Agency (ESA), the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the Israel Space Agency (ISA), and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) 1. The program aims to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon to prepare for missions to Mars 2.

NASA has 14 companies on contract through CLPS to bid on delivering science experiments and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface. Investigations and demonstrations launched on commercial Moon flights will help the agency study Earth’s nearest neighbor, and prepare for human lunar missions beginning in 2024 under the Artemis program 3.

When Artemis I launches to the Moon and back, there will be a lot of science hitching a ride! From CubeSats designed to hunt for water deposits on the lunar surface to experiments on how life responds to space – and so much more 4.

 

 



Transitioning from Launch to Tangible Building Blocks: The LEGO Challenge

After the great project launch, where minds are broadened and curiosities ignited, it's essential to channel this newfound enthusiasm into actionable tasks. The next phase, designed around a series of LEGO builds, serves as a tangible bridge from theoretical concepts to hands-on exploration. As the building blocks of our imagination, LEGO presents a unique opportunity for students to challenge their perspectives, think differently, and visualize their ideas. This structured yet creative environment fosters a safe space for innovation, allowing students to experiment, iterate, and refine their concepts without the fear of judgment. Furthermore, as they collaborate on their builds, they hone their communication skills, learning to articulate their ideas clearly and listen actively to their peers. This transition from a high-energy launch to a focused, hands-on challenge ensures that the momentum is not only maintained but channeled into productive, collaborative learning. The LEGO builds thus act as stepping stones, laying the foundation for deeper inquiry, critical thinking, and innovative problem-solving in the subsequent stages of the project.

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