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This guide was prepared as a tool useful for informal education venues (4-H, Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc.), science clubs and related programs, and can be adopted for formal education settings. An exciting and productive study in rocket science can be implemented using the selected activities for the above-mentioned settings. The guide's activities can be correlated to meet formal education's core curriculum objectives or used for ancillary enrichment and extension activities. The series of activities in this guide require basic, inexpensive materials. They demonstrate fundamental principles of rocket science. The activities were selected and organized around the target concepts of altitude, velocity and acceleration (i.e., height, distance and speed). The Adventures in Rocket Science Activity Matrix on page v organizes the activities by suggested grade level bands as well as target concepts. The guide includes a compilation of NASA-developed and originally developed activities that emphasize hands-on involvement, prediction, data collection and interpretation, teamwork, and problem solving. Project background and an edited, student-friendly version of "The History of Rocketry" is included. The guide includes an appendix with construction directions for various project activities, safety guidelines and a glossary of terms. Appended are: (1) Assembly Instructions; (2) Rocket Safety Code; (3) Rocket Principles; and (4) Rocketry Resource Materials. [This document was produced and funded through the NASA Explorer Institute (NEI) and is an expansion of the NASA guidebook "Rockets" by Deborah Shearer, Greg Vogt, and Carla Rosenberg.]

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is one of the biggest employers of engineers in the world--about 90,000 among its own employees and its corporate partners. So it's not surprising that NASA wants kids to learn more about engineering, become interested in the things engineers do, and experience the world of engineering firsthand. Meanwhile, "Design Squad" is all about engaging kids in engineering by offering them opportunities to give it a try. By teaming up to develop the "On the Moon" guide, NASA and "Design Squad" help teachers bring hands-on engineering and the adventure of space exploration to life for kids. This guide offers six hands-on challenges that bring engineering and NASA's moon missions to life for kids in schools and afterschool programs. The challenges take an hour (except "Feel the Heat," which takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours), use readily available materials, give kids many ways to succeed, and can be done with large groups. The activities also meet many of the national science, technology, and mathematics standards. Activities in this guide include: (1) Launch It; (2) Touchdown; (3) Roving on the Moon; (4) Heavy Lifting; (5) On Target; and (6) Feel the Heat. ["On the Moon" was produced by the WGBH Educational Outreach department, in collaboration with NASA.]

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Engineers at Marshall Space Flight Center along with their partners at other NASA centers, and in private industry, are designing and beginning to develop the next generation of spacecraft to transport cargo, equipment, and human explorers to space. These vehicles are part of the Constellation Program, which is carrying out a bold vision of human space exploration. The program includes a crew exploration vehicle and the spacecraft to carry the crew to the Moon and later to Mars. The NASA Authorization Act of 2005 directs NASA to establish a program to develop a sustained human presence on the Moon, which will serve as a stepping stone to further exploration of Mars and other destinations. This design challenge focuses on the Ares family of rockets, which will replace the Space Shuttle in the task of putting people, satellites, and scientific experiments into space. The Engineering Design Challenges connect students with the work of NASA engineers by engaging them in similar design challenges of their own. With some simple and inexpensive materials, teachers can lead an exciting unit that focuses on a specific problem that NASA engineers must solve and the process they use to solve it. In the classroom, students design, build, test, and revise their own solutions to problems that share fundamental science and engineering issues with the challenges facing NASA engineers. (Contains 28 figures.)

In May 2005, the International Technology Education Association (ITEA) was funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop curricular units for Grades K-12 on Space Exploration. The units focus on aspects of the themes that NASA Engineers and Scientists--as well as future generations of explorers--must consider, such as Energy and Power, Transportation and Lunar Plant Growth Chambers (the STS-118 Design Challenges). Moreover, the units are embedded within a larger model program for technology education known as Engineering byDesign[TM]. Design is a creative problem-solving process. In this unit, students will design and build a lunar plant growth chamber using the engineering design process. This Design Challenge has been written with two tracks in mind. Track 1 provides a more comprehensive learning experience, and teachers are encouraged to consider exploring this alternative, perhaps working with other teachers in the school to provide students with resources and a laboratory-classroom with the necessary equipment. The Design, Build and Evaluate Challenge is a twelve-to-eighteen day challenge for those teachers and students who have the resources available to build a larger model with operational subsystems. Teachers need to determine what tools and materials are available to students and whether students will build a full-sized or scaled-down version of the LPGC. This extension continues after the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) in Lesson 3 with the students constructing their working prototype and presenting it at the Critical Design Review (CDR) in Lesson 4. The Design and Evaluate Challenge is a five-to-seven day challenge. It requires students to design and build a small model of a Lunar Plant Growth Chamber (LPGC). This challenge ends with Lesson 3, culminating with the Preliminary Design Review (PDR). Resource documents are appended.

This student employee handbook offers tips on planning, design process, and presentation of a student Lunar Nautics project. Each section includes mission, task, challenge, and guide questions. With the activities presented, students will learn to design a Lunar Lander, Lunar Miner, and Lunar Base; investigate the geography and geology of the moon and lunar missions; and build various lunar spacecrafts. [This guide was created by Lunar Nautics Space Systems, Inc. in conjunction with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate; the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Academic Affairs Office; and Discovery Place, Inc. For the companion Lunar Nautics educator's guide, see ED511740.]

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Engineers at Marshall Space Flight Center, and their partners at other NASA centers and in private industry, are designing and beginning to develop the next generation of spacecraft to transport cargo, equipment, and human explorers to space. These vehicles--the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles--are part of the Constellation Program, which is carrying out a bold vision of human space exploration. The program also includes a crew exploration vehicle. The NASA Authorization Act of 2005 directs NASA to establish a program to develop a sustained human presence on the Moon, which will serve as a stepping stone to further exploration of Mars and other destinations. This design challenge focuses on the Ares family of launch vehicles, which will replace the Space Shuttle orbiter in the task of putting people, satellites, and scientific experiments into space. (Contains 23 figures and lists 17 resources.)

Field Trip to the Moon uses an inquiry-based learning approach that fosters team building and introduces participants to careers in science and engineering. The program components include the Field Trip to the Moon DVD [not included here], Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)/Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) Activities, and Lunar Base Activities. Together these materials can be used to create your own workshop that introduces important concepts about the Earth and the Moon, and motivates participants to use their cooperative learning skills. Working as a full group or in teams, the participants can develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving techniques, and an understanding of complex systems as they discuss solutions to the essential questions in this program. [Portions of this document were produced by the American Museum of Natural History.]

In this companion to the "NASA SCI Files" episode "The Case of the Great Space Exploration," the tree house detectives learn about NASA's new vision for exploring space. In four segments aimed at grades 3-5, students learn about a variety of aspects of space exploration. Each segment of the guide includes an overview, a set of objectives, vocabulary to be learned, a video component, related careers, resources, and student activities and worksheets. Guide includes a table indicating how each segment meets national standards for science, mathematics, and technology literacy. [Additional funding for this lesson guide was provided by Busch Gardens, Williamsburg and the NASA Langley Research Center's Aerospace Vehicle Systems Technology Program Office.]

As a part of its educational effort, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Education and Public Outreach group at Sonoma State University (SSU) has put together a series of activities based on the science of one of NASA's exciting space missions, the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST). GLAST is a NASA satellite planned for launch in 2006 that detects gamma rays, the highest energy light in the electromagnetic spectrum. This guide provides three hands-on activities to help students understand how the universe is studied and explored through the use of GLAST. Activities include: (1) Building Perspectives with Active Galaxies; (2) Zooming In on Active Galaxies; and (3) Light Travel Time and the Size of Active Galaxies. A glossary, science and mathematics standards correlations, and resources are provided. (MVL)

Several hundred thousand people converged on the Kennedy Space Center (Florida) on July 16, 1969, to view the launch of the "Saturn V" rocket that would propel "Apollo 11" to the moon. The engineers and technicians watching their computer screens may secretly have kept their fingers crossed, but at two minutes before launch, a reporter recorded that "idle conversation halted.""We have liftoff," said Mission Control. In another two minutes, there was nothing to see but the blue sky. This lesson, based on the National Register of Historic Places registration files for Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and for related government properties, can be used in U.S. history, social studies, and geography courses in units on the space program, the Cold War, and its effects on U.S. society, or interdisciplinary units on science and technology. The lesson is divided into eight sections: (1) "About This Lesson"; (2) "Getting Started: Inquiry Question"; (3) "Setting the Stage: Historical Context"; (4) "Locating the Site: Maps" (United States Space Installations; Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center); (5) "Determining the Facts: Readings" (Preparing the Way; The "Apollo" Hardware; "The 'Eagle' Has Landed"); (6) "Visual Evidence: Images" (Transporting the "Apollo" Space Vehicle to the Launch Site; "Saturn V" Lifting Off, July 16, 1969; Mission Control Center, Diagram and Key; Front Page of the (Washington) "Evening Star," July 21, 1969; View of the Earth from Space); (7) "Putting It All Together: Activities" (Unexpected Benefits from Space Research; A Mission to Mars?; What Price History?); and (8) "Supplementary Resources." (BT)

The construction of the International Space Station (ISS) is one of humankind's most exciting and challenging endeavors. Numerous rocket launches are required to build this orbiting science laboratory. The purpose of this curriculum supplement is to introduce students in the Early Childhood classroom to the International Space Station and the role rockets play in its construction. The guide uses these topics as the basis for interdisciplinary activities for the early learner. The product begins with background information for educators. Activities that follow the background information are designed to allow students to develop science, mathematics, technology, and English language arts skills. The activities in this guide are for use individually or as part of a more concentrated space or transportation unit. Educators may choose the sequence of lessons to best fit the requirements of their classrooms. Following the activities, the guide includes a glossary of terms and acronyms. (Contains 19 figures.) [The Education Office at NASA Johnson Space Center and the Education Office at Space Center Houston provided support for this document.]

This teaching unit is designed to help students in grades 4-8 explore the concepts of geometry and measurement in the context of surveying planets. The units in this series have been developed to enhance and enrich mathematics, science, and technology education and to accommodate different teaching and learning styles. Each unit consists of a storyline presenting the context for the problems to be solved, lists of the mathematics and science concepts addressed, background notes for the teacher, a list of teacher resources, and an activity complete with blackline masters. Also included are suggestions for extensions to the problems and their relationship to national mathematics standards. The story line for this unit is students learning how engineers and scientists are using geometry and linear and angular measurements to survey Earth and Mars and how geometric shapes affect navigation. (MM)

This teaching unit is designed to help students in grades 4-8 explore the concepts of scaling and proportion in the context of spacecraft design. The units in this series have been developed to enhance and enrich mathematics, science, and technology education and to accommodate different teaching and learning styles. Each unit consists of a storyline presenting the context for the problems to be solved, lists of the mathematics and science concepts addressed, background notes for the teacher, a list of teacher resources, and an activity complete with blackline masters. Also included are suggestions for extensions to the problems and their relationship to national mathematics standards. The story line for this unit is students learning why scaling and proportion are important factors in spacecraft design. (MM)

The countdown to a new century provides a unique opportunity to engage America's youth in charting a course for the future. The Mars Millennium Project challenges students across the nation to design a community yet to be imagined for the planet Mars. This interdisciplinary learning project aims to encourage K-12 students in classrooms and youth groups throughout the United States to achieve a better understanding of the connections between science and art, advance their technological skills, and gain an appreciation of the culture, history, and traditions of their own community. This booklet provides information and resources about the project that can be configured in many ways such as a single class project or one that involves several classrooms. (Contains 40 references.) (ASK)

This guide presents an activity for helping students understand how data from the Galileo spacecraft is sent to scientists on earth. Students are asked to learn about the concepts of bit-rate and resolution and apply them to the interpretation of images from the Galileo Orbiter. (WRM)

The Space Station is already capturing the imaginations of American students, encouraging them to pursue careers in the sciences. The idea of living and working in space continues to spark this renewed interest. The material in this guide was developed to provide hands-on experiences in science and math in the context of an International Space Station. The lesson plans are written to be used with K-5 students in groups of two to four people in a lab-type activity. The contents of this guide include: (1) an introduction to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the United States Space Station Program; (2) a diagram of the Space Station configuration; (3) Space Station Identification (Lesson 1); (4) Space Station Habitat and Laboratory (Lesson 2); (5) Outfitted for Space Work (Lesson 3); (6) Water Conservation on Space Station (Lesson 4); (7) Space Station Math (Lesson 5); and (8) an answer booklet. (WRM)

The Challenger Center for Space Science Education is a not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1986 following the Challenger 51-L space shuttle tragedy. This packet contains a variety of separate sheets and brochures providing information about the activities of the Challenger Center. Challenger Learning Centers provide hands-on, realistic space flight simulations for students and teachers. The Center also conducts teacher workshops on a regular basis, and produces science curricula that include space exploration and colonization simulation projects, and integrated activities centered around space science topics. This packet contains sample activities on the characteristics of light, aerogel technology as a means of capturing interstellar debris, and data transfer and compression in space exploration technology. (WRM)

This teaching unit is designed to help students in grades 4-8 explore the concepts of geometry in the context of space navigation. The units in this series have been developed to enhance and enrich mathematics, science, and technology education and to accommodate different teaching and learning styles. Each unit consists of a storyline presenting the context for the problems to be solved, lists of the mathematics and science concepts addressed, background notes for the teacher, a list of teacher resources, and an activity complete with blackline masters. Also included are suggestions for extensions to the problems and their relationship to national mathematics standards. The story line for this unit is students learning how engineers and scientists are using geometry and the solar system to navigate spacecraft to Mars. (MM)

This activity booklet is divided into two parts. Part One presents basic information about the electromagnetic spectrum and multiwavelength astronomy with an emphasis on X-ray astronomy. Part Two describes X-ray detectors at a more advanced level. An introduction to the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) and its contributions to science is presented. Suggestions for activities that can be done by students or families, in the classroom or at home, are also featured. (WRM)

The information provided in this booklet is meant to give the necessary background information so that the science of black holes can be taught confidently to secondary students. The featured activities can be used to engage and excite students about the topic of black holes in different disciplines and in a number of ways. Activities include: (1) Model a Black Hole; (2) Tin Foil, Balloons, and Black Holes; (3) Gravity Is as Gravity Does; (4) Testing Einstein 101; (5) Crossing the Event Horizon; (6) How Much Do You Know?; (7) Inevitable Mathematics; and (8) So, You Want to Be a Black Hole? A poster and a CD-ROM accompany this guide. (WRM)

These teaching guides are intended to supplement the shows of the ninth season (1998-99) of the PBS Television Series "Scientific American Frontiers." Episode 901 is entitled "Science in Paradise: Another Side of the Caribbean." The teaching guide contains information and activities on hawksbill turtles, volcanic eruptions, playing the steel pan, the world's largest radio telescope, and sea fans--a dying species of soft coral. Episode 902 is entitled "Journey to Mars: Getting There--and Back." The teaching guide includes information and activities on the Martian atmosphere, the possibility of ancient life on Mars, and various aspects of interplanetary exploration and space travel technology. Episode 903 is entitled "Animal Einsteins: How Smart Are They?" The teaching guide features information and activities on communicating with animals through sign language, the connection between language and thought, monkeys and chimpanzees with simple mathematical abilities, problem-solving ravens and tamarins, assessing animal intelligence, and communication between chimps and monkeys. Episode 904 is entitled "Life's Little Questions--and Some Very Big Answers." The teaching guide contains information and activities on hot peppers, insect aerodynamics, jet lags, traffic jams, and materials science. Episode 905 is entitled "Spiders!" The teaching guide contains information and activities on how spiders spin webs, spider strategies for outwitting enemies, the evolution of a new spider species, spider colonies, and arachnophobia. Each lesson topic is matched to the relevant national science education standards. (WRM)

Science education is an integral part of scientific endeavors. When the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was created by an act of Congress in 1958, its charter required the agency to "...provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning its activities and the results thereof." Part of that responsibility includes introducing students to the scientific results of planetary exploration. This volume is designed to help meet this goal. The activities are written either to supplement or to introduce topics usually encountered in earth science courses. The exercises are grouped into five units: (1) introduction to geologic processes; (2) impact cratering activities; (3) planetary atmospheres, (4) planetary surfaces, and (5) geologic mapping. Although each exercise is intended to "stand alone," students will benefit from having worked some of the prior exercises. For example, it would be difficult for students to work exercises in planetary geologic mapping without some knowledge of geologic processes and planetary surfaces. The suggested introductory exercises are noted at the beginning of each exercise. Depending on the instructor, activities can be adapted to most levels of instruction by modifying the questions and adjusting the expectations for answers. A list of suggested correlations of activities with topics commonly covered in earth science courses is included for the convenience of the instructor. (Contains 91 figures.)

This learning guide provides detailed information about exploring the planet Mars. The guide covers a variety of topics related to space exploration including: (1) the reasons for exploring Mars; (2) a history of the exploration of and thinking about Mars beginning with the Babylonians and continuing through the Viking missions; (3) the status of current exploration projects that include the planet Mars; (4) a discussion of why continuity in the Mars exploration program is important; (5) an outline of future Mars exploration missions that are underway or in the planning stage; and (6) four activities for students. The activities enable students to explore the following: (1) the concept of superposition and the role it plays in ordering planetary events; (2) the connections between geography and mission planning; (3) the Mars canyon system; and (4) impact craters and what can be learned about Mars from studying these geographical features. (DDR)

This program guide is meant to help teachers assist their students in viewing the six-part public television series, "Stephen Hawking's Universe." The guide features program summaries that give background information and brief synopses of the programs; previewing activities that familiarize students with the subject; vocabulary that gives definitions of the terms used in each program; postviewing activities that require students to use mathematics, research, and writing skills to examine issues and ideas discussed in the program; biographies of important figures in the history of cosmology; and Web sites on related topics. The first program in this series, "Seeing is Believing," shows the radical revisions that have taken place in cosmology over the last two thousand years. The second, "The Big Bang," describes the controversies surrounding the big bang theory. The third, "Cosmic Alchemy," examines theories concerning the evolution of matter. The fourth, "On the Dark Side," views the role that cold, dark matter plays in the universe. The fifth, "Black Holes and Beyond," discusses the enigmatic objects that result from a star's catastrophic gravitational collapse. The final program, "An Answer to Everything," examines scientists' attempts to develop a complete theory of how the universe works. (WRM)

These lesson plans, designed for grades 6-8, have been developed to provide a guide to hands-on experience in science and math. They focus on an International Space Station and are designed for use with students working in groups. The three lesson plans highlighting the importance of the scientific method are: (1) International Space Station identification (crosswords puzzle, observations, data, and conclusions); (2) Crystallography (triclinic, tetragonal, hexagonal, isometric, orthorhombic, monoclinic); and (3) Spectral Analysis (complete visible spectrum, lithium spectrum, helium spectrum). A fact sheet for the International Space Station is also included. (JRH)

This activity guide for teachers interested in using the intense interest many children have in space exploration as a launching point for exciting hands-on learning opportunities begins with brief discussions of the space environment, the history of spacewalking, the Space Shuttle spacesuit, and working in space. These are followed by a series of activities that enable students to explore the space environment as well as the science and technology behind the functions of spacesuits. The activities are not rated for specific grade levels because they can be adapted for students of many ages. A chart on curriculum application is designed to help teachers incorporate activities into various subject areas. Activities and related student projects make use of inexpensive and easy-to-find materials and tools. Activities are arranged into four basic units including: (1) investigating the space environment; (2) dressing for spacewalking; (3) moving and working in space; and (4) exploring the surface of Mars. Contains 17 references and 25 resources. (LZ)

The purpose of the Toys in Space project was to create new ways for children to discover the joy and excitement of science and technology in the world around us. This book describes how familiar toys behave in the space environment where the downward pull of gravity is absent, and clearly documents those principles of physics that explain why the toys behave as they do. Chapter 1 provides the background for the Toys in Space project. Chapter 2 provides the physics concepts needed to explain toy behaviors on earth and in space. Chapter 3 provides a detailed description of everyday life in orbit and a context for the toy experiments. Chapters 4 through 12 discuss how different toys work on earth and in space and contain instructions for constructing some of the toys. Two appendices list personal histories of the astronauts involved in the program and a list of NASA teacher resource centers. Contains an index and a glossary. (JRH)

This teaching guide for 4th through 6th grade classes integrates science, language arts, and math concepts into ready-to-use space and space technology lessons. Significant learning outcomes for this curriculum are linked to Ohio's educational objectives for science in an at-a-glance curriculum matrix. A summary of the significant 4-H life skills addressed within this curriculum is also provided. This curriculum is organized around three distinct units of study, Forces, Fibers, and Foods, linking space age technology to the everyday interests of students. Activity sheets and a pre/post test are included for these topics. (PR)

This booklet gives a history of human observations of Mars, including observations made from U.S. unmanned spacecraft. Also included is a discussion, "Encountering a New World: How to Explore a Planet," which contains classroom discussion questions and four classroom activities. The classroom activities include: (1) How to explore a planet; (2) Geography and mission planning; (3) Magnetic Material in the soil; and (4) a close look at Valles Marineris which includes a map of the Valles Marineris Canyon System in comparison with the United States. (MKR)

This booklet was prepared by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for use by teachers in the classroom or by parents at home. The descriptions, classroom activities and illustrations are designed for elementary-level school children. On each right-hand page is a simple line drawing that illustrates the narrative and the activities described on the left-hand page. The drawings can be reproduced and colored by the students. The activities' subject matter include: the space shuttle, communications, weightlessness, solar energy, hatches and airlocks, and living and working in outer space. (PR)

This guide provides students with experiences similar to those found in a space laboratory such as the space shuttle. The activities are geared towards recycling, developing the perspective of a conservationist, taking action on a personal level that contributes to a healthy atmosphere, and preparing informed citizens that are capable of making thoughtful decisions about environmental issues. Background material is provided about exploration of the sun, the earth's atmosphere, and the interaction between the two systems. A chronology of the ATLAS mission is included with a rationale provided for the pursuit of space exploration. (DDR)

NASA will launch Space Station Freedom piece by piece in the cargo bay of space shuttles. The process is scheduled to start in 1995 and be completed in 1999. This pamphlet presents factual information and accompanying hands-on science activities concerning the following aspects of the project: (1) the space shuttle's role in transport; (2) the control center; (3) rendezvous, in a weightless condition, with the space station for bringing in supplies; (4) the design of the space station and its use of solar energy; (5) living areas in the space station and the use of hatches and air locks; (6) performing tasks outside of the space station with manipulators in the cuppola, and through space walks; (7) eating and food dehydration; (8) washing needs, water usage, and water conservation; (9) health care and exercise; and (10) sleeping in space. Each activity has an accompanying list of vocabulary words and there is a list of definitions on the last page of the booklet. There are large illustrations for each activity. A listing of regional NASA Teacher Resource Centers is reproduced on the back cover. (PR)

The Spacesuit wall chart to which this guidebook is a supplement, portrays Astronaut Bruce McCandless on his historic first untethered spacewalk using the Manned Maneuvering Unit during Shuttle mission 41-B (February 3-11, 1984), when he ventured 100 meters from the Shuttle's cargo bay and returned safely. The guidebook provides an in-depth explanation of the elements depicted on the wall chart in see-through and cut-away perspectives, and is divided into the following sections: (1) a descriptive list of the 40 separate spacesuit components; (2) a detailed discussion of the necessary preparations and the checklist of procedures required for the donning of a spacesuit with photographs of the process; (3) a technological explanation of the design and operation of the primary life support system with illustrations; (4) a description of the provisions and the utility of the manned maneuvering unit; and (5) a historical narrative about spacesuit research and use over the past 50 years. (JJK)

The United States has explored the solar system with automated spacecraft and human-crewed expeditions that have produced a quantum leap in our knowledge and understanding of the solar system. Through the electronic sight and other "senses" of our automated spacecraft, color and complexion have been given to worlds that for centuries appeared to eyes on Earth as fuzzy disks or indistinct points of light and dozens of previously unknown objects have been discovered. Following a categorical listing of 41 NASA unmanned spacecraft launched between 1959 to 1990, this NASA publication contains numerous photographs and presents factual summaries of the following: (1) the evolution of automated spacecraft; (2) current knowledge about the Sun including information on spacecraft that visited the Sun and future solar missions; (3) conditions on Mercury, especially information that was learned from the Mariner 10 spacecraft; (4) information on Venus as gleaned from Mariner 2, Mariner 5, the Pioneer Venus Orbiter, the Pioneer Venus Multiprobe, and Magellan spacecraft; (5) information about the Earth as learned from trips into space; (6) information about the moon, the Apollo program, and theories on the origin of the moon; (7) detailed information on Mars including information from spacecraft on its topography, prospects for harboring extraterrestrial life, and its two moons Phobos and Deimos; (8) research on asteroids and the results of meteoroid collisions with the earth; (9) data gathered on Jupiter and its moons Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto; (10) data on Saturn and its rings; (11) information on Uranus, its numerous icy moons including Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, and Titania; (12) information on Neptune and its moons including Proteus and Nereid; (13) data concerning Pluto our most distant planet and its one moon Charon; and (14) information on the composition and orbits of comets including Halley's comet. A pictorial summary chart gives further information on the planets including mean distance from the sun, relative size, periods of revolution and rotation, inclination, eccentricity, and composition of their atmospheres. (PR)

This curriculum guide contains six units of instruction for an introduction to the technology systems in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Designed to be used either as a stand-alone publication or to be infused into the instruction and activities of an existing technology education program, this publication describes the interrelationship of the various technology systems in NASA. Introductory materials include a tools, materials, and equipment list; a list of 20 references; an instructional/task analysis that correlates related information with job training; and information on resources for teachers. Each instructional unit includes some or all of the following basic components: objective sheet; suggested activities for the teacher; teacher supplements; transparency masters; information sheet; assignment sheets; assignment sheet answers; lab activity sheets; written test; and test answers. Units are designed for use in more than one lesson or class period. Unit topics include introduction to the careers in the aviation and space industry; satellite communication systems; composite materials in airframe manufacturing; space-station construction techniques; space-shuttle propulsion systems; and aerostatics and aerodynamics. (YLB)