| Space Exploration
Author and astronomer Carl Sagan said, "Something in us recognizes
the Cosmos as home. We are made of stellar ash. Our origin and evolution
have been tied to distant cosmic events. The exploration of the Cosmos
is a voyage of self-discovery."
From the earliest of times, humans have always speculated about the stars.
Chinese, Babylonian, Egyptian and other ancient cultures all made a practice
of studying astronomy. Minus the advance of technology, this ancient inclination
to dream about the cosmos is the same dream that drives modern space exploration
endeavors. Galileo and John Glen are merely different chapters in the
same story.
The future of space exploration will continue to transform. Man will
continue to explore and bring his torch to the "billions and billions"
of stars and galaxies beyond our current perception, deep within the darkness
of the cosmos.
Places To Go | People
To See | Things To Do | Teacher
Resources | Bibliography
Places To Go
Space.Com
This site is dedicated to space and all space-related subjects. It focuses
on news, information, education and entertainment relevant to space and
seeks to facilitate greater public understanding and enthusiasm about
space and space-related subjects.
NASA's Space
Kids
Care to take a virtual tour of the solar system? Or perhaps send your
name to Mars aboard the next lander? You can do both at Space Kids, a
NASA web site designed for "children" of all ages.
Space
Exploration
This site is a concise yet comprehensive overview of the immense and expanding
field of space exploration. Providing a combination of historical and
functional information, this site unravels the mysteries of space exploration.
Zoom
Astronomy
Zoom Astronomy is a comprehensive on-line site about space and astronomy.
It is designed for people of all ages and levels of comprehension. It
has an easy-to-use structure that allows readers to start at a basic level
on each topic and then to progress to much more advanced information as
desired, simply by clicking on links.
National Air and Space
Museum
Although this site is organized primarily to highlight exhibits at the
National Air and Space Museum, it does allow you to view photos and text
descriptions of the various exhibits. A map locates the various types
of exhibits (history of flight, WWII aircraft, etc.).
History
of Space Exploration
At this site, which includes educator's resources on both robotic and
shuttle spacecraft, students can learn about the history of space exploration
and find information about a number of United States, Russian, Japanese,
and European missions.
Students for the
Exploration and Development of Space
This web site provides pathways to engage in space-related projects. View
the space image archive, visit the world's largest optical telescopes,
and explore a host of other links related to astronomy and space exploration.
Smithsonian:
Space Exploration
This online exhibit at the Smithsonian documents the progress of the space
program and commemorates the people who realized our dream to reach beyond
Earth.
Space Place
Blast off to the Space Place launch pad to learn how to make and do space
things and to see space science in action.
Windows to the
Universe
Windows to the Universe is a user-friendly learning system on the Earth
and Space sciences for the use of the general public. The objective of
this project, funded by NASA, is to develop an innovative and engaging
Web-site that spans the Earth and Space sciences.
SETI (Search for
Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) Institute
Find out what's new in the study of extraterrestrial intelligence.
A
Hotlist on Space Exploration
A sixth grade teacher, as part of his space science unit, created this
hotlist of sites on space exploration.
People To See
Famous
Astronomers and Astrophysicists
This site, which can be viewed alphabetically or chronologically, gives
a glimpse of famous astronomers and astrophysicists.
The
Galileo Project
Galileo is perhaps best known for perfecting the use of the telescope
in observing the heavens. His observations challenged the way people in
his time thought about our solar system. At this site, you can learn about
Galileo's experiments, discoveries, and inventions.
Scientific
American Tribute to Carl Sagan
Through his enthusiasm for space science and the possibility of intelligent
life elsewhere in the universe, author and astronomer Carl Sagan stimulated
the public's interest in the stars. Sagan, perhaps most famous for his
television series "Cosmos," died in 1996.
Women
of NASA
This site profiles women in science and technology at NASA. In addition
to autobiographical essays and photographs, visitors are also provided
with opportunities to communicate with scientists online. This site is
the product of effort to expand choices and opportunities for girls interested
in studying science, math, and technology.
NASA Astronaut
Biographies
Read biographies of NASA astronauts. This site also has information about
astronaut candidates, payload specialists, and Russian cosmonauts.
Things To Do
Astronomy
throughout History
Embark on a journey through time, across the continents and into the lives
of people from all times and places to learn more about the history of
astronomy and how it fit into the lives of various cultures.
Star
Journey
Journey through the stars with National Geographic Online. Click on links
that allow you to view the night time sky, visit star attractions, or
take a look through the Hubble Space Telescope.
The
Nine Planets: A Multimedia Tour of the Solar System
The Nine Planets is an overview of the history, mythology, and current
scientific knowledge of each of the planets and moons in our solar system.
Each page has text and images, some have sounds and movies, most provide
references to additional related information.
Universe Today
Read the latest news in space exploration at this site.
Astronomy
Picture of the Day
Each day see a new image from space, along with a brief explanation written
by a professional astronomer.
Mysteries
of Deep Space
This website, the online companion to the PBS documentary that bears the
same name, dives into the vastness of space as it presents the boldest
new achievements of modern astronomy. Join astronomers as they probe the
limits of the observable universe and peer into the violent worlds of
black holes and supernovas.
New
York Times Questions and Answers about Space
Check out this collection of space questions and answers compiled by The
New York Times. Topics range from the birth and death of stars to the
speed of light.
Teacher Resources
Space:
"The Final Frontier"
This virtual tour highlights some of the information discovered about
space from planets to galaxies, from the sun to super novas, from Apollo
to ISS.
Moon
Project Alpha
The earth is dying. Your group has decided to leave at once and make a
new home on the moon. You have three major challenges: (1) Survival, (2)
Form a new government, (3) Persuade others on earth to come and join your
colony.
NASA Resources for
Educators
Great resources for teachers provided by NASA.
Mars
Pathfinder (simulation)
A group of five students at Mount Logan Middle School in Logan, Utah used
a modified remote control car, a TV and a video camera to simulate the
Mars Pathfinder.
Educator's Reference Desk Astronomy Lesson Plans
An assortment of astronomy lesson plans for various grades.
"One
Giant Leap for Mankind": Revisiting the Apollo 11 Mission in the
Social Studies or Language Arts Classroom
In this lesson, students gain an understanding of the significance of
the Apollo 11 lunar landing thirty years later by interviewing an adult
about his or her memories of the specific events and impact of the mission.
Students then incorporate their interviews into news articles, imagining
that they are journalists in July 1969 with the goal of documenting citizens'
views of this historic "step for mankind."
Eyes
on the Sky, Feet on the Ground
This is a neat site for teachers looking for astronomy projects and ideas.
It is set up like a book with chapters that cover a variety of topics
from "The Earth's Rotation" to "the Meaning of Light."
Comet
Web Quest
Geared to upper-level students, this webquest has students study the potential
hazards of a comet colliding with Earth.
Human
Life on Mars...What's it like?
This webquest for middle school science students examines what life would
be like for humans on Mars.
Traveling
into Tomorrow!!!
An integrated science and language arts webquest about space exploration
for middle school students.
Exploring
the Solar System
This lesson plan introduces students to earth's moon and the eight other
planets in our solar system. Students will learn about the geology, composition,
and orbits of other planets by planning a trip to another planet.
Sizing
Up the Solar System
This lesson encourages students to investigate and design various models
of size and distance related to the solar system.
Bibliography
- Branley, Franklyn. And True Kelley. The International Space Station
: Stage 2 (Let's Read). Harpercollins Juvenile Books, 2000.
- Burrows, William E. and Walter Cronkite. The Infinite Journey : Eyewitness
Accounts of NASA and the Age of Space. Discovery Channel Inc., 2000.
- Carlson, Shawn. Scientific American : The Amateur Astronomer. John
Wiley & Sons, 2000.
- Delafosse, Claude and Gallimard Jeunesse, Donald Grant. Space (First
Discovery Hidden World Book). Scholastic Reference, 2000.
- Embury, Barbara. The Dream is Alive. Harper & Row, 1990.
- Glenn, John and Nick Taylor. John Glenn : A Memoir. Bantam Doubleday
Dell Publishing, 1999.
- Heppenheimer, T.A. Countdown : A History of Space Flight. John Wiley
& Sons, 1999.
- Kraemer, Robert S. and Roger D. Launius. Beyond the Moon : Golden
Era of Planetary Exploration 1971-1978 (Smithsonian History of Aviation
and Spaceflight Series). Smithsonian Institution Press, 2000.
- Launius, Roger D. Frontiers of Space Exploration. Greenwood Publishing
Group, 1998.
- Levy, David H. The Scientific American Book of the Cosmos. St Martins
Press, 2000.
- Long, Kim. The Moon Book : Fascinating Facts About the Magnificent,
Mysterious Moon. Johnson Books, 1998.
- Sagan, Carl. Cosmos. Ballantine Books, 1983.
- Sagan, Carl. Pale Blue Dot : A Vision of the Human Future in Space.
Random House, 1994.
- Wagner, Richard and Howard Cook. Designs on Space : Blueprints for
21st Century Space Exploration. Simon & Schuster, 2000.
- Wolfe, Tom. The Right Stuff. Bantam Books, 1983.
|
Share
