Through their own innovation and
creativity, 12 student Design Challenge Teams from across the nation will be
honored on Space Day, Thursday, May 4, for their “Stellar” Design Solutions.
These solutions were selected from the hundreds submitted in response to the
Space Day Design Challenges to Living and Working In Space. (See attached
list.) Recognized for their clarity of presentation, useful application,
demonstrated collaboration and creativity, the “Stellar” Design Solutions will
be showcased on Cyber Space Day, a live, interactive Webcast emanating from
Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. on Space Day
from Noon to 3 p.m. EST.
Space Day’s Design Challenges were developed by Challenger Center for
Space Science Education as part of Space Day’s mission to advance science,
math and technology education. Created to encourage students in grades 4, 5,
and 6 to think like scientists and engineers by solving real problems of
Living and Working In Space — this year’s Space Day theme — the Design
Challenges encouraged student teams to solve one of the following:
* Space Walk Talk (Communication Challenge) - Design a nonverbal method
for astronauts outside the International Space Station to communicate
with the crew inside.
* Water ReCycle (Water Purification Challenge) - Develop a method of
purifying water on the International Space Station, 500ml (2 cups) at a
time.
* X-Treme Fitness (Fitness Challenge) - Create fun sports, games or
exercise equipment that a space crew can use in microgravity.
“The Design Challenges give students opportunities to use the power of
inquiry so essential to good science and to find solutions for the problems of
living and working in space,” co-chair of Space Day and former Senator and
astronaut John Glenn said of the educational initiative.
“We’re thrilled with the nationwide response to the Space Day Design
Challenges,” commented Danny La Bry, Senior Vice President, Program
Innovations, Challenger Center for Space Science Education. “The diversity and
creativity of the student solutions submitted were outstanding! They not only
embraced the challenge of creative problem-solving, but they took advantage of
the technology to find resources and share ideas with students from all over
the country. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of these problem-solvers end up
working on the International Space Station some day.”
From Honokaa, HI to Austin, TX, and from Kingman, AZ to Rome, NY, Design
Solutions came from across the nation. They were reviewed and 12 “Stellar”
solutions were selected by Space Day’s Educational Advisory Committee, with
representatives from the National Science Teachers Association, NASA,
Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, The National Science Foundation,
Montgomery County Public Schools, Challenger Center for Space Science
Education and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
In addition to the “Stellar” Design Solutions, there were several
Honorable Mentions.
Among them was a team from The New York School for the
Deaf who submitted a solution that combined elements of American Sign Language
to address Space Walk Talk, the nonverbal communication challenge.
Described in detail on www.spaceday.com, the Design Challenges are part of
a new National Classroom, a comprehensive, online learning initiative that
supports students’ efforts with animated clues, links to important educational
and space Web sites, and bulletin boards where student teams could compare
notes with other students all across the continent. The student teams were
required to submit their Solutions by March 31.
Teachers were able to support their student teams by registering for three
free Electronic Lessons that were broadcast into their classrooms in February.
The Electronic Lessons were designed to inspire students as they worked on the
Design Challenges. Each, 15-minute Electronic Lesson concentrated on the work
that underpins space missions. For example, two people charged with purifying
water at a national aquarium demonstrated how water is cleaned and re-used. A
conditioning coach for the Houston Astros explained how he tailors exercise
for baseball players, and for crew on the International Space Station.
“I appreciated the well organized, thought-provoking activities,” said
Karen Godenschwager, a teacher from University School in Shaker Heights, OH.
“The cooperative rather than competitive design was refreshing and important
to stress with students.”
In addition to the student Solutions, the Cyber Space Day Webcast will
feature interviews with former astronaut and Senator John Glenn; Dr. Sally
Ride, the first American woman to fly in space and President of SPACE.com; Dr.
Bernard Harris, Vice President for Science, SPACEHAB, Inc; and a number of
other astronauts, engineers and scientists who will provide their unique
insights into the challenges of living and working in space.
For information on local activities on Space Day and for more information
on the “Stellar” Design Challenge Teams, please visit Space Day Showcase at
www.spaceday.com/design2000/showcase.
Space Day is the annual celebration of the achievements, benefits and
opportunities of space exploration. It is dedicated to the advancement of
science, math and technology education, and aims to inspire youngsters to
realize the vision of space pioneers.
SPACE DAY 2000
Stellar Design Solutions
Water ReCycle (Water Purification Challenge)
Most Creative:
Design Name: The Water Ice Recycling Plan (The W.I.R.P)
School: Lackawanna Trail Elementary Center
College Ave.
Factoryville, PA 18419
(570) 945-5153
Teacher Name: Ms. Marty Kerzetski
Description: The W.I.R.P. is a method of water recycling that
occurs outside the Space Station. To recycle water,
the crew would place the water in a re-usable
container (the approximate size of a coffee can) and
place it outside the Space Station until it freezes
solid. The container is then brought back inside the
Space Station and thawed at 32.5 degrees so that
only the water melts. As the water melts, it is
drained through a funnel filter attached to the
container. Any impurities remain in a solid state
while the pure water is drained out and ready for
use.
Best Collaboration:
Design Name: Water in the Making 2000
School: Lackawanna Trail Elementary Center
College Ave.
Factoryville, PA 18419
(570) 945-5153
Teacher Name: Ms. Marty Kerzetski
Description: The project recycles water through the use of a
clean, empty plastic soda bottle and several filters
such as charcoal, sand, gravel and a cloth-like
material. The resulting water is free of solids,
color and odor, and has a pH of 7.0. Materials used
in the recycling process include a zipper, tube pipe,
funnels, charcoal, rocks, one soda bottle, a filter,
and 500 ml. of water.
Best Presentation:
Design Name: Recycle It!
School: Lackawanna Trail Elementary Center
College Ave.
Factoryville, PA 18419
(570) 945-5153
Teacher Name: Ms. Marty Kerzetski
Description: This water recycling solution relies on a filtering
process that includes a plastic bottle, nylon, fish
filter cloth, cotton, charcoal, aquarium gravel, and
sand. By attaching the filtering materials to the
top of the plastic bottle, and then removing the
bottom of the plastic bottle, the Space Station crew
could create a quick filtering system. To create
clean water, the Space Station crew would simply
turn the bottle so that the open bottom end is up,
and pour the "dirty" water into the plastic bottle.
The water would then flow through the series of
filters and then into a drinking cup as clean water
to drink.
Most Useful:
Design Name: The Aquarius 2000
School: Sacred Heart Catholic School
5911 Reicher Dr.
Austin, TX 78723
(512) 926-0687
Teacher Name: Mrs. Tracy Rider
Description: This device purifies water for the International
Space Station (ISS). Through the use of tubes,
pumps, gas and a filter, recyclable water is boiled
and then filtered to create fresh, drinkable water.
Space Walk Talk (Communication Challenge)
Most Useful:
Design Name: Space Talk and Walk
School: La Senita Elementary School
3175 Gordon
Kingman, AZ 86401
(520) 757-4328
lmfm34@hotmail.com
Teacher Name: Ms. Lisa McClure
Description: By using color-coded leather flaps, this design
solution solves the communication problem and allows
the astronauts to signal emergency messages to the
crew inside the Space Station.
Best Collaboration:
Design Name: Fiber Optic Communicator
School: Stonewall Middle School
10100 Lamond Avenue
Manassas, VA 20109
(703) 361-3185
Wisemat@pwcs.edu
Teacher Name: Ms. Terri Wiseman
Description: This design team, ComTech, uses fiber optics to
solve the communication problem in space. Each space
suit is equipped with a keypad on one arm of the
suit, and the astronauts would type in messages that
could be sent to astronauts inside the Space
Station. A translator computer chip is also included
in the design to overcome language barriers.
Best Presentation:
Design Name: Say What?
School: Canton Intermediate School
39 Dyer Avenue
Collinsville, CT 06022
(860) 693-1961
Teacher Name: Ms. Amy Connelly
Description: This project design uses a skin-fitting glove with a
four-inch device attached near the wrist. The device
sends Morse Code vibrations which would be translated
into words or messages by a crew member on the Space
Station. Wires connect to two buttons on the surface
of the space suit so the astronauts can send messages
back to the ship via microwaves.
Most Creative:
Design Name: Universal Comm Blink and Wink
School: Home school
15410 NW Oak Hills Drive
Beaverton, OR 97006
(503) 614-0288
reneelagrow@sprintmail.com
Teacher Name: Ms. Renee Lagrow
Description: Morse Code is an international language the
astronauts could use for communication outside the
International Space Station (ISS) in two different
ways. First, the astronauts could rely on
blinking/winking Morse Code signals using their eyes.
If the astronauts are too far away to use the first
method, they could rely on a light device built into
their space suits to signal Morse Code messages.
X-Treme Fitness (Fitness Challenge)
Most Creative:
Design Name: Break
School: Stonewall Middle School
10100 Lamond Dr.
Manassas, VA 20109
(703) 361-3185
Teacher Name: Ms. Terri Wiseman
Description: The BREAK exercise system is a great way to work the
leg and arm muscles. It uses a bungee cord to connect
the two astronauts. Then they take off in opposite
directions using handles to pull themselves towards a
bell. The first one to ring the bell wins. This
exercise is a fun way to stay in shape because it is
very competitive.
Best Collaboration:
Design Name: Miraculous Moving Marathon Mat
School: Lackawanna Trail Elementary Center
College Ave.
Factoryville, PA 18419
(570) 945-5153
Teacher Name: Ms. Marty Kerzetski
Description: This project is based on the use of a mat for
astronauts to exercise on. It has velcro on the top
so they are able to stay down in a microgravity
environment. Astronauts also will receive velcroed
slippers and gloves. Springs are attached on the
bottom of the mat so the astronauts can bounce. A
cushion is also included between the mat and springs
so astronauts have a safe landing.
Best Presentation:
Design Name: Stretch and Glide (Vera Band)
School: Brookfield Elementary
4200 Lees Corner Rd.
Chantilly, VA 20151
(703) 814-8700
Teacher Name: Mrs. Terri Gaito
Description: The Stretch and Glide project uses a wooden board,
velcro, and an elastic band to help astronauts use
resistance exercises in microgravity. The Vera Band
will be used to stretch legs and arms and build up
muscle tissue. Exercise and repetition will help
astronauts stay healthy in space.
Most Useful:
Design Name: Space Swim
School: Stonewall Middle School
10100 Lamond Dr.
Manassas, VA 20109
(703) 361-3185
Teacher Name: Ms. Terri Wiseman
Description: Space Swim simulates swimming in space which,
according to references, is one of the best ways to
exercise the entire body. The astronaut (inside the
space capsule) is secured to a wall with leather
straps, and has bungee cords that create resistance
in the "swimming" motion.
