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21st CENTURY EXPLORER
Are we there yet?
Why do astronauts eat tortillas instead of bread?
How would your body change in space?
How can we travel faster in space?
What will replace the Space Shuttle?
Why do robots travel places before people?
Why return to the Moon before going to Mars?
Why do we want to study and travel to Mars?
Where would a space explorer find water and oxygen?
What would you find on the Moon’s surface?
What would you hear in a weather report from Mars?
How will your imagination help you become an explorer?
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HOW CAN WE TRAVEL FASTER IN SPACE?

Books

Miller, Ron: The History of Rockets. Franklin Watts, 1999. ISBN: 0531114309

Richards, Jon: Rockets: An Inventor’s Handbook. Silver Dolphin Books, 2004. ISBN: 1571458956

Sneider, Cary: Experimenting With Model Rockets. Great Explorations, 1989. ISBN: 0912511206

Zubrin, Robert: The Case For Mars. Free Press, 1997. ISBN: 0684835509

Web Sites

Ion Propulsion FAQ
This web site answers your questions about ion propulsion technology.
http://nmp.jpl.nasa.gov/ds1/tech/ionpropfaq.html

The RocketModeler
Design and launch model rockets over and over again on this interactive web site. You don’t have to worry about damaging your ceiling when you launch these rockets inside your room. http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/rktsim1.html
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Books, periodicals, pamphlets, and web sites may provide teachers and students with background information and extensions. Inclusion of a resource in this educator guide does not constitute an endorsement, either expressed or implied, by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
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NATIONAL EDUCATION RESOURCES
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NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS
National Science Education Standards (NSES)

Content Standard A: Science as Inquiry

  • Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry (K–8)
  • Understandings about scientific inquiry (K–8)

Content Standard B: Physical Science

  • Properties of objects and materials (K-4)
  • Position and motion of objects (K-4)
  • Properties and changes of properties in matter (5–8)
  • Motions and forces (5–8)
  • Transfer of energy (5–8)

Content Standard E: Science and Technology Standards

  • Abilities of technological design (K-8)
  • Understanding about science and technology (K-8)

Content Standard G: Science as a Human Endeavor

  • Science as a human endeavor (K-8)
  • History of science (5-8)

International Technology Education Association (ITEA)

Design

  • Standard 8: Students will develop an understanding of the attributes of design.

National Mathematics Education Standards (NCTM)

Number and Operations Standard

  • Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates
    • develop fluency in adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing whole numbers;

Algebra

  • Use mathematical models to represent and understand quantitative
    • develop model problem situations with objects and use representations such as graphs, tables, and equations to draw conclusions.

Measurement Standard

  • Apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine measurements
    • select and use benchmarks to estimate measurements;

Data Analysis and Probability Standard

  • Formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer them
    • collect data using observations, surveys, and experiments;
    • represent data using tables and graphs such as line plots, bar graphs, and line graphs;

Reasoning and Proof

  • Recognize reasoning and proof as fundamental aspects of mathematics
  • Develop and evaluate mathematical arguments and proofs