Water Filtration Challenge
[IN-HOUSE ONLY]
VA SOL Alignment: 6.6, 6.8 and 6.9
Have you ever wondered how astronauts get clean water all the way in space? Through the NASA Water Filtration Challenge students collaborate, design, and build a water filtration device out of commonly available materials following the same design process by the engineers and scientists who developed NASA’s International Space Station Water Recovery System. To meet this challenge, students use an iterative process as they build, test, and measure the performance of the filtration device, analyze the data collected, and use this information to work toward an improved filtration design. Finally, students explore local Virginia watershed systems and investigate human impacts on the environment.
Scream Machines
[IN-HOUSE ONLY]
VA SOL Alignment: PS.8
Gear up for a wild ride with the Scream Machines program! Investigate the forces that go into roller coaster construction. Learn all about gravity, potential/kinetic energy, and friction by engineering, testing, and calculating data from your very own roller coaster! Learn how NASA Engineers design space capsules to fight the forces of friction when returning back to Earth from space.
Space Capsule Scramble
[IN-HOUSE ONLY]
VA Science SOL Alignment: PS.8
VA Math SOL Alignment: 6.5
Have you ever wondered how astronauts land safely back on Earth after visiting outer space? Engineering safe space capsules for astronauts’ return to Earth is a critical mission at NASA. Learn about several important STEM careers that help engineer safe space capsule designs to get astronauts back to Earth. Then, design your own space capsule structure to protect an Eggstronaut from a four story drop! Measure mass, velocity, acceleration, and force upon impact to investigate the importance of parachute engineering in safe space return.
Spheros: Mission to the Launch Pad
[IN-HOUSE ONLY]
Step into the role of a NASA launch mission team and put your robotics skills to the test! Using a Sphero robot, participants will guide an astronaut through two action-packed missions, navigating to the launch pad and tackling obstacles that stand in the way of a successful launch. They’ll plan routes, dodge hazards, collect data, and fine-tune their strategies as the challenges get tougher.
Ozobots: Planets in Motion
[IN-HOUSE ONLY]
Ready to launch your own planetary mission? Grab an Ozobot and bring the inner solar system to life! Participants will take on two exciting challenges as they program robots to model Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars in motion. They’ll investigate the difference between rotation and revolution, make predictions, collect data, and use colorful codes to set their planets in motion. Along the way, they’ll test their ideas, debug their code, and discover how robotics can help us unlock the secrets of our solar system.
Packing for the Moon
Step into the role of a NASA mission planning team and prepare your crew for a week-long mission to the Moon. With strict mass and volume limits, participants must evaluate essential supplies, weigh competing priorities, and develop a strategic packing plan. Teams will analyze trade-offs, justify their decisions, and collaborate to maximize their crew’s chances of success. Along the way, they’ll explore the real-world challenges of space mission logistics and the STEM concepts engineers use to plan beyond Earth.
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