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| Introduction | Task | Products | Process & Resources | Teacher Page |
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The United Federation is worried. In the past few years, we have found 2,600 "Near Earth Asteroids" in orbit around the sun that cross the orbit of the earth. According to NASA, the "Earth orbits in a cosmic shooting gallery subject to occasional random hits by comets and asteroids. Impacts by objects a mile or more across can devastate the planet's environment." (from Asteroid and Comet Impact Hazards)
If one strikes, will the fate of humans be the same
as the fate of dinosaurs - extinction?
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Your team has been asked to make a proposal to put a colony of 600 humans somewhere in our solar system (sorry - not on Earth or our moon) as a test of whether it might be possible to someday do large scale colonization.
The colony is to be self sufficient - you will only be allowed to bring enough materials to start your colony. This means that, once your colony is built and working, it must provide everything the colonists need. Other than what you brought, whatever is in the station must be made new, fixed easily, grown or recycled. It is a long way to Earth. Replacement parts, food, etc. cannot be shipped due to the high costs, $100,000 - $1,000,000 per pound, depending on your location. So - once your colony is operational, you are on your own.
You will have limited ability to travel close to your location in space (2,000,000 miles or 3,225,800 Km round trip) using shuttles, but remember you cannot supply your colony from earth or any place more than 1,000,000 miles or 1,612,900 Km away. The colony may be put on any other planet or moon, or may be put in orbit around the sun or a planet or moon in our solar system.
You will present your proposal to a United Federation Commission made of other teams who will then help the High Commissioner (the teacher) pick the best proposal by questioning your proposal.
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1) What makes the place you decide to put your colony better than anywhere else in the solar system? 2) How will the environment and ecosystem in and around your colony be changed by building and running your colony? 3) What factors will help you decide that your colony is successful? |
ROLES
Everyone in the group will share the role of Interplanetary Surveyor. After that, decide what responsibilities your group members should have from the other roles below. Some team members may have more than one role.
| INTERPLANETARY SURVEYOR | ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER |
| LIFE SUPPORT ENGINEER | HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR |
| RECREATION DIRECTOR | GENERAL RESOURCES |
Make decisions on the site of your colony. In particular, consider:
1. What will the location of your colony? Be specific! Will it be on a surface, under an ocean, in an atmosphere or in orbit? If in orbit, how far from the sun, planet or moon is it?
2. How far away from the sun will your colony be (Average Solar Distance)?
3. If it is on a surface of a moon or a planet, what is the revolution period and rotation period, in Earth days, for the moon or planet?
4. If your colony is in orbit around the sun, a planet or moon, what is it revolution period?
5. At a speed of 40,323 Km per hour (the speed needed to escape Earth's gravity), how long will it take to get to your colony?
The Nine Planets - Probably the best single site to get information on our solar system.
Explore the Solar System - This site shows the orbits and positions of the planets right now. You can tilt or rotate the solar system.
Solar System Simulator from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory allows you to see what different bodies in the solar system look like from various viewpoints.
Welcome to the Planets - Has outstanding photographs and information of members of our solar system and the space.
The Bodies in our Solar System - From NASA Click on the image of a planet to see more information.
Solar System Exploration Home Page from NASA - Looks at why and how we explore our solar system, and the information on the planets we have discovered.
NASA Image Exchange allows you to search for images of planets, moons, etc. in our solar system. Be sure that if you use any image to cite the source.
The Solar System from StarChild and NASA has images and definitions about objects in our solar system.
Windows
to the Universe has information about our solar system and much more.
Make decisions on factors that will determine environment around your colony. In particular, consider:
1. What will the sun look like from your colony? If you have to, how will you handle radiation from the sun?
2. How much gravity exists now on your colony's site? How will you deal with this gravity, or the lack of it?
3. Should you create artificial gravity? If so, how?
4. How much will you weigh?
5. Will the gravity be enough to grow plants, or even hold water in a pool?
6. What is the exterior (outside of your colony) atmosphere and weather like in the place you will put your colony? What protection from these elements do you need?
7. If your colony in orbit, will it run into anything in the environment? What?
8. Is there a solid surface you can use to build your colony on? ? If so, then what is the surface made of? Describe the surface. Be specific!
9. If you place your colony on or near a surface, is your planet or moon stable? Are there quakes, geysers or volcanoes? How active are they?
10. If you place it in orbit, is there a ring or asteroids nearby? Could these be a danger? How?
11. What are comets? Where do they come from and what is the chance that comets could endanger your colony?
12. What else in the environment near your colony (such as radiation) can hurt your colonists? How can you shield them from these dangers?
13. Can people from your colony obtain any raw materials from your location for the things you need? If so, describe this process.
The Nine Planets - Probably the best single site to get information on our solar system.
Welcome to the Planets - has outstanding photographs and information of members of our solar system and the space.
The Bodies in our Solar System - From NASA Click on the image of a planet to see more information.
Solar System Exploration Home Page from NASA - Looks at why and how we explore our solar system, and the information on the planets we have discovered.
Planet Hop Find out about gravity on planets.
Your Weight on Other Worlds How much do you weigh on various planets and moons?
Space Wardrobe - Information on environment needed for humans in space.
Living in Space from NASA has information about living in space.
Effects of Long Duration Space Flight - Just what can being weightless do to your body after a long time? This is a somewhat technical paper, with a high reading level, but it's full of clues. (Link courtesy of archive.org)
Exercising Astronauts - What does low gravity do to our bodies? How can we overcome that?
Bioastronautics Roadmap has information
45 health risks for humans living long term in space.
Make decisions on how you will keep the colonists alive. In particular, consider:
1. What energy source will you use? Explain why it is the best.
2. What alternate energy source will you need if conditions make the first one not usable. Explain why is a good source to use.
3. Into what kinds of energy will these be changed into in order for your colony to succeed?
4. What living conditions will you need for the people in your colony? Will you simulate "seasons" or periods of "day" or "night" or will everything be the same, all the time? How will people adapt to this?
5. How will you obtain food? If you mention plants, what kind of plants? Why would they be good? Will you use soil or water? (Don't forget, some trees grow down as far as they grow up.) What environment can you produce to make these plants productive?
6. How will you obtain clean water for people? Is it renewable or recyclable, and if so, what is your plan to do this? Will you use water for food production? How can you get enough? How can you stop water from being a problem (such as condensation or fog or frost) in your colony's internal atmosphere?
7. How will you obtain an internal atmosphere, including oxygen? Will your plan produce more oxygen than it consumes? Why?
8. How will artificial or natural day and night (or the lack of it) affect your plants' growth?
9. What will happen to garbage and waste materials?
What kinds of pollution or health hazards will your colony produce? How
will you deal with them?
10. What is the exact size of your colony? Be specific about the dimensions of all the various parts and pieces your colony needs to survive.
11. What transportation system will your colony
need? Will it hurt the environment? Why?
Food for Space Travelers Is anyone hungry?
The Nine Planets - Probably the best single site to get information on our solar system.
Welcome to the Planets - has outstanding photographs and information of members of our solar system and the space.
Solar System Exploration Home Page from NASA - Looks at why and how we explore our solar system, and the information on the planets we have discovered.
Living in Space from NASA has information about living in space including hygiene, food and what to wear.
Space Food - Facts about eating food in space.
Life Support Facts - Just how much food does a person eat in a year? How much will your 600 colonists? What needs to be recycled?
Clean Air for the Space Station from NASA has information about how the astronauts on the International Space Station get clean air. There are other links to life support information.
Living In Confined Quarters - How small a space could you live in?
Water on the Space Station - We are going to have to drink recycled WHAT???
Composting - What will you do with organic (food) garbage in your colony?
The Recycling Process - What will you do with the rest of the garbage? Take a tour to find out (remember to click on the "forward" link on the pages).
Rotten Truth About Garbage - More information about how to keep your colony or space station from getting filled up with garbage.
Advanced Life Support from the Johnson Space Center has lots of technical (hard to read but important) information about living in outer space.
Spaceflight and Life Science Training Program - has more technical (hard to read but important) information about what we need to live in space.
Advanced
Life Support and Gravitational Biology from the Kennedy Space Center has
lots of technical (hard to read but important) information about living
in outer space.
(link courtesy of archive.org)
Make decisions on the kind of occupations essential to your colony. In particular, consider:
1. What technical occupations are essential to your colony? Make sure you know what a “technical occupation” is!
2. What number of people will be allocated to each occupation? Why?
3. Make a detailed list of the job descriptions of four of these technical occupations. Include the following;
4. What basic skills must they have?
5. What thinking skills must they possess?
6. What personal qualities must they exhibit?
7. What educational qualifications must they possess? Be specific!
8. What past work experience must they have?
9. What other occupations or team members help
them do their job?
Solar System Exploration Home Page from NASA - Looks at why and how we explore our solar system, and the information on the planets we have discovered.
EdSpace from NASA has information about what it takes to be an astronaut, careers and about living in space.
A Career Search and More Internet Sites on Careers from Mrs. Hoover at Abe Hubert Middle School in Garden City, KS has information on occupations and the skills needed for those occupations.
U.S. Occupational
Handbook is a great place to begin looking for technical occupations
to help your colony succeed. Click the blue buttons on the left for information
about particular occupations.
Make decisions on the kind of recreation necessary to your colony. People are not machines. We have emotional and psychological needs that must be met to help us relax. In particular, consider:
1. What spectacular natural places (such as a volcano, a moon or a ring) within two million miles of your colony will you bring your colonists for tours?
2. How can you describe these places? What makes them so special? Be specific in describing the wonders and beauty of these natural areas! Include photographs (be sure to give credit to the source) or sketches of the areas.
3. What activities do your colonists do in their
leisure time? List those especially that take advantage of your colony's
location and environments, both internally and externally; in other
words, "going to the mall" for recreation is not acceptable.
Describe these in detail.
Welcome to the Planets - has outstanding photographs and information of the members of our solar system and the space.
The Nine Planets - Probably the best single site to get information on our solar system.
Solar System Exploration
Home Page from NASA - Looks at why and how we explore our solar
system, and the information on the planets we have discovered.
IMPORTANT:
The decisions you make must depend on the place you put your colony. What makes sense in one part of the solar system will not make sense in another.
Also, the decisions you make for one part of your colony might affect other parts of your colony. For example, if you say that your colonists need an artificial "night" and "day" for them to do best, then will plants do best with this decision also?
PROGRESS CHECK:
After four days of research, give the High Commissioner a copy of the results of your research, including the exact location of your colony, and a list of your decisions so far.
Our Library! It is the fastest way to find background information. Someone once said that "The internet is a place where a person can find information in an hour when it would take ten minutes in a library." There is a great deal of truth to that statement.
Your textbook has much information on our solar system, energy sources and renewable resources.
Space Flight Questions and Answers has five pages of frequently asked questions about living in space.
NASA's Observatorium is a public access site for Earth and space data.
StarDate Guide to the Solar System from The University of Texas McDonald Observatory.
Windows to the Universe from the University of Michigan has many facts about planets and moons.
Data about Moons in our Solar System Contains links to sources of information about satellites.
Imagine the Science! - Has information about what is inside and outside of our solar system and the tools astronomers use.
Cosmic Ray Astronomy Satellites & Missions - Tells us about some of the kinds of radiation you will be faced with.
Imagine the Universe! Dictionary - All the space definitions you ever needed brought to you by NASA
Pathways to Astronomy Education Resources - Good resources about our sun and radiation (and much more).
International Space Station - Gives you some information from our present space station to help your team build yours.
Space Settlements: A Design Study - Provides a load of information on what you need to consider in designing a space settlement.
Space Settlement - Mike Combs' site is about building a settlement in orbit around the Earth. Sorry, but you can't do that in this WebQuest. However, you may find ideas you can use in your settlement.
Space Settlement Basics - For those that want their space settlement in orbit, not on a planet or moon, this has interesting ideas.
Orbiting Space Settlements from NASA has lots of links how to live in space.
Hubble Space Telescope Images - Arranged by subject, these are awesome pictures.
Units
Converter will tell you just how many miles or kilometers in an A.U.,
and much more. This site was originally created by Matt Stanislawski
and David Stears from the Illinois Math and Science Academy.
Documentation for your notes should include something your learned
from a site or a book and a bibliography (the name of the site or the book,
and either the publisher or the internet link). Include the author and
the date the page was made or accessed by you if known. The following
is an example of documentation: "Titan has a thick nitrogen atmosphere."
Solar
System Bodies: Saturn, Bill Hubble http://sse.jpl.nasa.gov/features/planets/saturn/saturn.html
1/15/01
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Images courtesy of NASA.
Last updated 07/27/05
Copyright © 1997 - 2005 Richard Levine
This site is for non-profit, educational use only. Please cite the source if used. If you have any comments, questions or resources you would like to see added to these pages, contact Richard Levine, Cool Lessons, Educational Technology Consultant, at comments@coollessons.org
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