How do you solve problems like an engineer?

Go through the steps of the Design Process and find out!

For inspiration, explore stories about scientists and engineers who have tried, failed, tried again and succeeded in creating innovative technologies.

Jump to a Section:      Anytime Design Challenge      More About Spacesuits

An infographic showing the steps of the design process including: Identify the Problem, Investigate, Brainstorm Solutions, Design and Build a Model, Test Out Your Model, Improve the Design, Share Your Design

The Design Process is a series of steps that inventors, engineers, and designers go through when trying to create a solution to a problem. 

Anytime Design Challenge

What you'll need for this design challenge:

  • Several pieces of paper
  • Pencil

  • Materials and supplies you can find around your house for building a model (ie. recycled materials like plastic bags, yogurt cups or paper towel tubes)

  • Craft supplies like tape, glue, markers, twine
  • A tub or sink to hold enough water to reach your forearm into
  • Items of varying sizes that won't get ruined in water

Step 1

A circle that reads Identify the Problem in the center. On the upper left and lower right sections of the circle, there is one drawing of a yellow question mark inside a triangle.
  

Your family's challenge: Design a glove that would be part of a spacesuit that would keep things out, keep important stuff in, and allow you to pick things up.

Spacesuits aren't the easiest to move around in but there's a reason for this! The spacesuit is basically a safe environment needed for a human to live and work in space. With our sights set on exploring Mars, people in space will need a more flexible suit to move around in that keeps them safe from the Mars environment.

Step 2

A circle that reads Investigate in the center. On the upper right section of the circle there is a drawing of an open book with a magnifying glass.

Investigate

Investigate and learn more to help with your design.

Learn more about the place humans would use the spacesuit—Mars.

Mars in a Minute Video      Mars Facts

Watch these videos about spacesuits and then answer these questions together:

  • Why are spacesuits designed this way?
  • Why are spacesuits so hard to move around in?

Spacesuits in 30 Seconds

The Next Generation of Spacesuits

Watch this video about space gloves and then answer these questions:

  • Which space glove material and design choices did you think were interesting?
  • Was there anything you would want to improve upon for your space glove design?


 

Step 3

A circle with the words "Brainstorm Solutions" inside. On the upper right section of the circle is a picture of a head with a lightbulb inside.

Brainstorm Solutions.

Get creative and think of as many ideas as you can! This is called brainstorming.

If you need some help, jumpstart your brainstorm with these questions:

  • How does clothing on Earth protect you?
  • What would you want to keep astronauts on Mars safe from?
  • What materials could you use to keep astronauts safe?
  • For your prototype, make a list of materials that you could find in your home to use.

The next steps are a cycle that repeats!

Three circles connected. The text in each circle reads "Design and Build a Model," "Test Out Your Model," and "Improve the Design."

This is the part of the design process that repeats!

Design and Build

  • Choose the idea you like best
  • Sketch out your idea
  • Write notes of what you'd want your vehicle to look like and what materials you'd use
  • Start building your glove model using materials and craft supplies you've gathered!

 

Test, Improve, Test Again

Test #1: How easy can you move around in the glove?
Try picking up different sized things, like a pencil, a rock, and a tennis ball. 

Test #2: Does your space glove keep things out and keep your hand dry?
Fill up a tub or sink with water, put your glove on and stick it in the water.

  • What happened?
  • How long can you keep your hand underwater without water getting into the glove and on your hand?

Test #3: Can you pick up things in water?

Based on your test results, what improvements do you want to make?

An important part of the engineering design process is making mistakes! Learn more here about what is considered a success or a failure.

A circle that reads "Share Your Design" in the center.

Share Your Design.

Share your design with us!

We'd love to see what your family created!

Snap a photo of your design and send it to NASM-FamilyPrograms@si.edu.

 

What are spacesuit engineers designing for Mars astronauts now?

Pablo de Leon is a spacesuit engineer who is leading a team at the University of North Dakota Space Suit Laboratory, working on an experimental spacesuit to allow humans to work on Mars.

 Learn more about spacesuit engineer Pablo De Leon! Look closely at the spacesuit in the image.
  • What do you notice is different from the other spacesuits you've seen? 

He is pictured here with a prototype of one of the spacesuits his team developed, the North Dakota Experimental-1 (NDX-1) Mars Prototype Suit.

  • What is the same?
  • Why do you think it was designed this way?
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