SPACE STATION: Room with a View

Albright Middle School District #48 Villa Park, Illinois   J. Eldridge C. Geberbauer

 

 

 

Introduction | The Task | The Process | Galley Chief | Inn Keeper | Hygienist | Personal Trainer | Assessment | Conclusion

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Man has looked to the stars since the beginning of time and wondered what it would be like to travel and live among them. For almost 50 years, man has acted on his desire to explore space himself. We have traveled to the moon and back, sent unmanned missions through and out of our solar system, designed and operated space stations, and seen other galaxies with powerful telescopes.

Man has also looked back at our Earth. Have you ever heard that the earth is shrinking? It probably isn't, but the population of earth continues to grow and make it seem as if it is. We are using more and more of our non-renewable resources every day. Out of curiosity and necessity, some of us may find ourselves living and working in space.

THE TASK

As you know, a microgravity environment changes living as we know it on earth. You have been selected to serve on a team of research experts that will make recommendations for the design of a living module on a new space station. You will become an expert in one of the following areas:

• Galley Chief - researching what and how people eat and drink in space
• Inn Keeper - researching sleeping in space
• Hygienist - researching personal care in space
• Personal Trainer - researching physical and mental exercise in space.

The information your team gathers will describe former and present designs for your area of living. You are encouraged to share your knowledge with team members.

As individuals, you will present your information in written form or in electronic form. Your products will be presented at a symposium of research teams where various aspects of microgravity living will be discussed.

You will have 7 days to work on your project:

• Day 1 - teacher introduction
• Days 2, 3, & 4 - team research time
• Day 5 - time to share information with your fellow experts
• Days 6 & 7 - develop your individual product
• Day 8 - symposium of experts.
  

THE PROCESS

1. Choose on which team you would like to participate. Sign up with your teacher and pick up your Expert Packet. Be sure to complete all forms and return them to the packet. At the end of each work session turn in your packet to your teacher.

2. Select your role below and begin your WebQuest.

• Galley Chief
• Inn Keeper
• Hygienist
• Personal Trainer
  

ASSESSMENT

You will be assessed by your teacher in the following areas:

• how well you have used the WebQuest
• what you have learned about living in a microgravity environment.

CONCLUSION

Congratulations! Think about all you have just learned about living in a microgravity environment, using the Internet, and sharing information with your classmates.

Eating, sleeping, personal care, and exercising are tasks we do automatically on earth. In order to live in space, an astronaut on the Space Shuttle or the future International Space Station must adapt to new living conditions in order to survive and be successful. With help from future space engineers like you, continued improvements in space living technology will enable astronauts to explore the near and far reaches of our solar system and develop new technologies that will benefit earth dwellers as well.

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