"Cars" in Space

Objective: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the development of rovers and other surface transportation space vehicles over the last several decades of space flight. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the use of rovers as vehicles for space exploration.
Focus Question(s): How does the rover aid space exploration?
Length:	45-90 minutes
Grade Level:	4-12
NASA Missions:	Space Operations, Exploration Systems
National Math and Science Standards:	Science Standards Science as Inquiry Understanding About Scientific Inquiry (6-12) Physical Science) Properties Of Objects And Materials (K-4) Motions And Forces (5-12) Chemical Reactions (9-12) Transfer Of Energy (5-8) Science And Technology Understandings About Science and Technology (4-12) History And Nature Of Science History Of Science (5-8) Historical Perspectives (9-12)
NASA Presenter:	Bryan Palaszewski – bryan.palaszewski@nasa.gov
Advanced Preparation:	Completion of the pre-conference activity is recommended: Grade 4: Be glad you’re not a cyclops!, The Space Place, http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/urbie_action.shtml Grades 5-8: Commanding a Robot, NASAexplores, http://www.nasaexplore.net/show_58_teacher_st.php?id=030109160421 Grades 9-12: Rover Races, Athena: Mars Exploration Rovers, http://athena.cornell.edu/educators/lp_06.html View images from a typical “Cars” in Space presentation. (This is a large file and is slow to load.)
This event focuses on the early history, development, and future of rovers and other surface transportation vehicles for space exploration. It covers rover development from the early days of lunar exploration to the future of human exploration of the outer Solar System. The interactive and high energy event is augmented with photographs of historical, current, and future rover and other surface transportation vehicles, their past and proposed space missions, and their inventors. The presentation also includes: the use of illustrative scale models of rovers, such as the Mars Exploration Rover. demonstrations of rover construction, using small paper models created with NASA materials. The event can be geared to certain grade levels. Post-Conference Activities: Grade 4: Stump Your Friends with Your Mosaic Robot Puzzle!, The Space Place Grades 5-8: Into the Great Unknown, NASAexplores Grades 9-12: Out of Sight, NASAexplores Other sites of interest: Mars Rovers Home Page: The Rover Ranch Sojourner Rover (Mars Pathfinder) FIDO Rover Personal Exploration Rovers NASA Johnson Lego Lunar Rover Mars Tumbleweed Rover Mars Microrovers Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, see Apollo 15, 16, and 17 rovers
Advanced Notice Recommended:	4 weeks
Frequency of Presentation:	Once a month
Availability of Presenter:	Varies
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