Some Assembly Required

Objectives

At the end of this lesson, students will be able to describe the evolution of the space station, list its major components, our international partners and the timeline of events for the coming year.

Students will explore virtual-reality models, 3-D models, videos, on-line tutorials, and other multimedia links about the International Space Station to accomplish this.

Specifically, students will, upon completing this unit of instruction be able to:

• Name all previous Russian and American space stations.
• List the major goals and accomplishments of the Shuttle-Mir program.
• Analyze alternate designs for the space station, the evolution of the ISS and explain why the changes to the designs were made over time.
• Give an overview of the goals of the ISS Program.
• Describe the basic assembly sequence through Assembly Complete.
• Describe the major components and systems of the ISS and how they work.
• Explain the differences between the shuttle and ISS robotic arms.
• Describe the recycling efforts that are being planned for the ISS.
• Distinguish between the duties and responsibilities of the 3-person and 7-person ISS crews. · List a variety of activities EVA crews will have to perform during the construction of the ISS. · List the international partners of the ISS and their contributions to the space station.
• Calculate the estimated cost per pound per country for the International Space Station through Assembly Complete.
• Determine the EVA O2 budget for an ISS emergency repair scenario.

Successful knowledge acquisition will be determined by students submitting an original engineering design for an innovation to assist the astronauts in the construction of the space station, solving the Station Math questions correctly, and by scoring at least 75 percent on the quiz.

Students will design a helpful innovation for the space station keeping in mind

• the laws of physics,
• the vacuum of space,
• the needs of the crewmembers,
• the limitations of the current space suit and
• the design of the space station.

The innovation can be used by the crew on EVA or from inside the shuttle or the space station, be remotely operated or controlled manually, and address any part of the construction process.