Summer Camp: Living and Working in Space—Mission to Enceladus (Age 7-8)

What would it be like to travel to Enceladus and explore this bitter cold moon of Saturn that has a frozen ocean all around and ice plumes spraying out into space? Are their life forms swimming and growing in the water under its icy surface? What would your lander and rover look like, and what scientific instruments would you take with you? How would you have enough food, water, oxygen, and electricity for a space trip that could take eight years? How would we safely land and return to Earth? Answer these and more questions as you simulate a mission to Saturn's icy, watery moon in " Space Camp: Living and Working in Space—Mission to Enceladus."

Through lively and interactive discussions, vivid images, teacher demonstrations, and possible hands-on activities, students will learn about Saturn, its moon Enceladus, space travel, astronomy, physics, and more during this exciting and fun 5-day summer camp class. Among other skills, students will use their imagination and creativity during their mission. More specifically by week:

Class 1: Students will learn many things astronomers know about Saturn and its moons, especially Enceladus. This will include studying what the ice particles shooting out through cracks in the ice might tell us about what is underneath, and what the surface conditions might be like if humans were to land there.  

Class 2: Students will learn about scientific instruments that landers and rovers can have and that astronauts can control. They will also choose or invent instruments that can penetrate through the ice and study the water below. They will design a lander that will successfully land on the frozen water surface of Enceladus, and a rover to enable humans to explore the surface away from the lander. These could include drawings, models, written descriptions, videos, and slide presentations. The students will decide what information they should gather and how they might discover possible underwater life forms. They will begin to prepare for our simulated journey and how to survive on the surface.

Class 3: Students will examine rocket propulsion and Newton's Third Law, and how to land on worlds with a lot of atmosphere, a little of it, and none at all. Students will also learn about the many tasks and roles they need for everyone to survive comfortably on Endeladus and return to Earth. These will include growing food; producing clean water and electricity; having enough oxygen; knowing how to communicate with Earth en route and on the surface; and between each other on the surface; and recycling water.

Class 4: Ready for their mission to begin, the students will simulate launching from Earth and traveling to Enceladus on the journey that could last four years or more. They will imagine what they would experience after landing, including discovering possible life forms. They will simulate carrying out the tasks we cover during Week 3.

Class 5: Students will complete their mission, celebrate their discoveries, and return to Earth with their findings!