iSTEM News: Year 10 students prepare for splashdown!
Our Year 10 iSTEM students have recently undertaken the ‘Design for Space’ unit. Throughout the unit, they learnt about the history of space flight, the space environment and space vehicle design.
Throughout our studies, we had learnt that NASA conducted ocean landings (a splashdown) during the early years of space flight in order to safely return it’s crew back to earth. Splashdowns were undertaken as they created a softer landing for the crew and allowed for the vehicle to be built without the rockets that would normally be required to land on solid ground.
After learning this, students were presented with the following CEV (Crew Exploration Vehicle) Challenge. This challenge required the students to develop a solution in groups using their problem solving and collaboration skills over numerous lessons.
CEV Challenge
Design Brief:
Using the design process, design, build, test and improve a crew exploration vehicle capable of carrying two 2-centimeter-tall "passengers" and floating in water for one minute without leaking.
Criteria for success:
- The CEV must safely land in water and remain floating for one minute without leaking after being dropped from 61cm.
- The CEV must land and remain top-side up.
- The CEV must securely hold two 2cm-tall astronaut figures seated inside the CEV.
- The CEV must have a hatch on top that opens and closes (or can be removed, and is large enough for a 2-cm-tall astronaut figure to pass through.
- The CEV hatch must remain closed (or attached in place, if it is removable).
Design constraints:
- Teams must use the materials provided.
- The CEV must weigh less than 100 grams.
Materials:
- Cotton balls
- Cardboard
- Sheets of paper
- Paddlepop sticks
- Sticky tape
- Plastic sandwich bags
- Cling wrap
- Hot glue guns
- Various other craft or building supplies or recycled materials
Numerous lessons were spent in the classroom and workshop where students used their problem solving and collaborative skills to solve the problem at hand. Each group had an original, creative and innovative design.
This challenge created a fantastic learning experience with much excitement and engagement. This was especially evident during the testing phase where the groups were able to modify their designs between each test in order for it to succeed.
Each group is to be congratulated on their success throughout this challenge. Their hard work, effort and continual evaluation of their designs definitely paid off and I am extremely proud of them. I look forward to continue working with our students in our current unit CAD/CAM, where they will be learning to use the laser cutter and 3D printer.
Sarah Kamali
Teacher of Technologies
Design sketches and photos:
