Discover and explore jobs and careers in space exploration that use art, design and crafting skills.
Space is a lot different from our home environment of Earth.
The Earth's magnetic fields protects us from harmful radiation (high energy particles) from the Sun and other stars. The Earth's atmosphere protects us from the cold temperatures of space and provides us with air to breathe.
When people and spacecraft go into space, they have to be protected. This takes a lot of research and design.
Because of this, there are many important jobs that prepare astronauts and spacecraft for the harsh environment of space. Learn more about these jobs in the activities below!
This image shows how the Earth's magnetic fields protect us from radiation from the Sun.
Check out these books from your library to explore careers in air and space!
Materials Needed:
Let's Imagine:
Activity
The Engineering Design Process is a series of steps that are used when trying to create a solution to a problem. These steps are used by a lot of different jobs, not just engineers!
NASA is working with other organizations to send the next group of astronauts to the Moon with the hopes that we can go the next step and visit Mars. It has been 50 years since the last time people visited the Moon! New designs for spacesuits have been created to update the spacesuits of the past.
How would you redesign the boots worn when walking on the Moon? Use the Engineering Design Process to come up with ideas!
Materials Needed:
The boots in this picture are the actual shoes worn by Eugene Cernan, the commander of the Apollo 17 mission. As added protection for the astronaut, these boots slipped on over another set of boots that were connected to the spacesuit they wore when they did their space walks.
When these boots were designed, engineers didn't know what moon soil would be like. From our visits there, we now know that moon soil is much softer than expected.
How would you redesign the moon boot for future exploration?
To help jumpstart your brainstorm, think about these questions and talk to your grownup about it.
This diagram shows different part of moon boots. Starting at the heel of the boot, there's a donning strap that runs vertically out boot. The rear back is the shell assembly. In the front, there's a snap fastener the helps close the front of the boot. Below that is a strap assembly, running horizontally across the boot. At the end of that strap is a latch. Inside the boot is liner and insulation assemble. At the bottom is sola assembly. The diagram is labeled "lunar overshoe."
This boot is part of the pair that was made for and worn by Eugene Cernan, commander of the Apollo 17 mission that landed on the moon on December 10, 1972.
The International Latex Corporation made the boots which were part of Cernan's extra-vehicular (EV) equipment. The EV boots were worn over the boots that were integrated into the spacesuit and which included the pressure bladder and thermal coverings. The boots were made with a silicone sole, woven stainless steel uppers (Chromel-R), and included additional layers of thermal protection and beta felt in the soles as protection against extreme temperatures and sharp rocks on the lunar surface.
Transferred to the National Air and Space Museum from NASA in 1974
This boot is part of the pair that was made for and worn by Eugene Cernan, commander of the Apollo 17 mission that landed on the moon on December 10, 1972.
The International Latex Corporation made the boots which were part of Cernan's extra-vehicular (EV) equipment. The EV boots were worn over the boots that were integrated into the spacesuit and which included the pressure bladder and thermal coverings. The boots were made with a silicone sole, woven stainless steel uppers (Chromel-R), and included additional layers of thermal protection and beta felt in the soles as protection against extreme temperatures and sharp rocks on the lunar surface.
Transferred to the National Air and Space Museum from NASA in 1974
Choose your favorite idea and sketch it out! Make notes and point out your new additions.
Describe to a family member or friend how you would redesign the moon boot and why.
Meet Celena Dopart, an engineer with SpaceX, and Joe Wilding, an engineer with Cosmic Aerospace.
Engineers are people who imagine, design and build things.
Watch these videos to learn more about how Celena and Joe have combined the things they loved as children into a career!
Think About It!
1. Think of two of your favorite things to do.
2. Mash them together to get a possible future career in air and space!
3. Draw a picture of you doing the job you thought of.
4. Share your picture with someone in your family.
Activity
Best for ages 10 and up
Origami is a form of art from Japan that involves folding a flat square piece of paper into different shapes. Engineers at NASA and other space companies have used origami to figure out future spacecraft designs!
Here is one example of how origami is used to solve an engineering problem:
For this activity, we'll show you how to make a moveable origami piece that can change shape.
Materials Needed
How to make square paper from printer paper:
Soar Together at Air and Space is made possible by the generous support of Northrop Grumman.
Sign up for our mailing list to get notified when more activities like this become available, learn about upcoming family days, get reminders to sign up for other family-friendly programs like virtual planetarium shows and story times, and more.