The Beginner's Guide to Rockets (BGR) was created as a Web-based "textbook." The web site is a research project to explore the use of the personal computer and the Internet to present educational materials to students, teachers, and lifelong learners in a more interactive way than a printed, bound textbook.

Another method for reaching students, teachers and lifelong learners is the use of Distance Learning. While preparing presentations for students, several Power Point files have been developed for the Digital Learning Network (DLN) using information from the BGR. On this page, we provide a listing of the presentations. Students and teachers are encouraged to copy the Power Point files to their own computers and to modify them as desired for their own presentations.

During our DLN presentation on "Humans in Space", we often make use of video clips from the International Space Stsation that were recorded by Suni Williams during Expeditions 14 and 15. We are making these video clips available for teachers at this web site at the bottom of the page. We have also included a clip from a zero gravity aircraft showing water under microgravity.

Interactive Software

• Rocket Modeler Talk - Beginner's Guide to Rockets A Power Point presentation prepared for students on 26 Feb 03 describing RocketModeler and the forces on a model rocket.
• Introduction to FoilSim, EngineSim and RocketModeler A Power Point presentation prepared for college students on 2 Feb 04 describing the use of computer simulations to model complex physics problems.

Space Flight

• Earth-Moon System A Power Point presentation prepared for students on 21 May 07 describing the Earth-Moon system, including the tides, eclipses, craters, and formation of the Moon.
• Rocket Modeler Talk A Power Point presentation prepared for students on 26 Feb 03 describing RocketModeler and the forces on a model rocket.
• Model Rocket Stability and Control A Power Point presentation describing how model rockets and real rockets are controlled during launch. Prepared on Jan 5, 2004.
• This IS Rocket Science A Power Point presentation prepared for 5th graders on 15 Oct 04 describing the basics of rocket propulsion and flight. Includes the launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavor.
• Rocket Science A Power Point presentation prepared for 8th graders on 23 Feb 05 describing the basics of rocket propulsion and flight.
• Rocket Science - Advanced A Power Point presentation prepared for 10th graders on 21 Apr 05 giving more mathematical details of rocket propulsion and flight.
• Rocket Science - College A Power Point presentation prepared for 12th graders on 21 Oct 05 giving the mathematical details of rocket propulsion and flight using calculus.
• Rocket Science - for Teachers A Power Point presentation prepared for NASA Educator Astronaut Teachers on 28 Jul 05 giving even more mathematical details of rocket propulsion and flight.
• A Review of Man in Space A Power Point presentation prepared for 6th graders on 31 May 05 giving some information on space history, moon landings, rocket science, and future plans.
• The Space Shuttle A Power Point presentation prepared for 5th graders on 19 Oct 04 describing the parts and mission profile for the Space Shuttle.
• The Space Shuttle A Power Point presentation prepared for 5th graders on 25 Oct 05 describing the many different missions of the Space Shuttle.
• Return to Flight A Power Point presentation prepared for 5th graders on 27 Apr 05 describing the mission profile for STS-114, Return to Flight of the Space Shuttle.
• Build the Station A Power Point presentation prepared for 5th graders on 20 Apr 07 describing the mission profile for STS-117.
• Educator Astronaut A Power Point presentation prepared for NEAT Teachers on 13 July 07 describing the mission profile for STS-118.
• The Space Race A Power Point presentation prepared for 8th graders on 13 May 04 describing the race to the moon.
• History of Humans in Space A Power Point presentation prepared for 6th graders on 15 Feb 05 describing the history of human space travel, from Vostok to the ISS. An undergraduate version of this talk is also available.
• History of the Apollo Moon Program A Power Point presentation prepared for 7th graders on 17 Mar 05 describing the history of the moon program. Includes pictures from all of the Apollo missions of the early 1970's.
• Humans in Space A Power Point presentation prepared for 8th graders on 21 Jan 05 describing the space environment and the problems people face in low earth orbit.
• Human Biology in Space A Power Point presentation prepared for 10-11-12th graders on 3 Feb 05 describing the biological problems people face in low earth orbit.
• Risks in Space Flight A Power Point presentation prepared for 8th graders on 21 Jan 05 describing the space environment and the risks associated with space flight.
• Risks in Space Flight II A Power Point presentation prepared for 8th graders on 22 Feb 05 showing Images from spaceflights in which the crew and ground control saved the mission.
• Back to the Future A Power Point presentation prepared for parents and students on 25 Jan 05 describing human space flight from the days of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo, through the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, and back to the Moon with the Crew Exploration Vehicle.
• Humans to Mars A Power Point presentation prepared for students on 5 Feb 06 describing some problems for human space flight from the Earth to Mars and back.
• Asteroids A Power Point presentation prepared for middle school students on 5 Oct 06 describing the asteroid belt, spacecraft that have visited asteroids, and the chances for asteroids hitting the Earth.
• DAWN Spacecraft A Power Point presentation prepared for teachers on 19 July 07 describing the DAWN mission to orbit the asteroids Vesta and Ceres.

Others

• High Speed Flight A Power Point presentation prepared for 4th graders on 15 Mar 04 describing the various flight regimes and problems associated with high speed flight.
• Falling Objects A Power Point presentation prepared for 12th graders on 20 May 04 describing the physics and mathematics of falling objects in a vacuum and in the atmosphere. Includes the Apollo 15 experiment. A younger version of this talk was prepared on 2 Mar 05 for 5th graders.
• Simple Machines A Power Point presentation about simple machines and how they are applied to problems related to rocketry. Prepared on 12 Oct 05 from previous versions of 14 Feb 05 and 22 Feb 05 in support of the Digital Learning Network.
• Aerospace Career Talk A Power Point presentation describing aspects of a career in aerospace engineering. Prepared on Aug 25, 2003, using slides from a talk in 2001.

ISS Videos

• DC-9 Microgravity Flights An avi video clip that illustrates the parabolic flight path used for microgravity experiments on Earth.
• Water in Microgravity An avi video clip of water in microgravity, filmed on the DC-9. Various water balloons are burst on the aircraft.
• Start of the Day on ISS An avi video clip showing Suni Williams on ISS at the beginning of a day during Expedition 14. She moves from the Discovery Module, through the Unity Module towards the Zarya Module.
• Cleaning Up on ISS An avi video clip showing Suni Williams and Mike Lopez-Alegria on ISS during Expedition 14. The two demonstrate brushing teeth, washing face, and washing and combing hair in microgravity in the Zarya Module.
• Bathroom on ISS An avi video clip showing Suni Williams and the bathroom in the Zvezda Module.
• Breakfast on ISS An avi video clip showing Mike Lopez-Alegria, Suni Williams, and Mikhail Tyurin preparing breakfast in the Zvezda Module during Expedition 14.
• Exercise on ISS An avi video clip showing Suni Williams and Mike Lopez-Alegria exercising during Expedition 14.