SWEET HOME, OUTER SPACE
a WebQuest on Space Settlements
By Rhue Anne Cosgrove & Lisa Lintner-Sizemore

INTRODUCTION TASK PROCESS

photo source: NASA Ames Research Center

RESOURCES CONCLUSION EVALUATION

INTRODUCTION:

    Space colonies are permanent orbiting communities, as opposed to colonization of the Moon or other planets. Princeton physicist Dr. O'Neill and others have shown trough technically feasible, orbiting space colonies are  very expensive. Citizens of these colonies will be living inside large air-tight rotating structures holding up to millions of people along with the animals and single celled organisms vital to comfort and survival. Here are some advantages to living in orbit: zero-gravity recreation, environmental independence, plentiful solar energy, and terrific views among other things. Opportunities exist for anyone interested in living in space colonies: the materials from a single asteroid can build space colonies with living space equal to about 500 times the surface area of the Earth.

Why should space colonies be in orbit as opposed to living on surfaces of Mars or the Moon? The surface gravity of the Moon and Mars is far below Earth's normal. Children raised in low-g will not develop bones and muscles strong enough to visit Earth comfortably. In contrast, orbital colonies can be rotated to provide Earth's normal pseudo-gravity in the main living areas.

photo source: NASA Ames Research Center

THE TASK:

    You and three others have been appointed to a special task force team by the President of the United States. In response to rumors that Russia is currently developing a space settlement, The President has devised this task force team to insure that America will be the first to send an orbiting settlement into space. Your duties will include:

· Each member of the team will be researching a specific area of space colony design.

· Members will receive all data from research and together devise a model of the projected space settlement colony.

· Using your data, your model and your skills, report your findings to the President by means of a presentation. (Use PowerPoint, HyperStudio, posters, diagrams or what your teacher finds most appropriate)

· For the conclusion of the presentation, announce your team's personal opinion on the immediate building of the settlement. Allow the President to know any problems that might arise, your projections of public opinion, and how it will affect the future of United States.

.
photo source: NASA Ames Research Center

THE PROCESS:

    Each person in your group is to select one of the following positions: Astronaut, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Psychology and Scientist. A series of  questions to be researched will be included for each position. Use links to internet sites, book, and magazine articles to answer your questions. Other readings you may find in addition to those in this website are recommended as well.

1. THE ASTRONAUT

· What materials will you use to build the space settlement?

· How is your colony going to generate needed gravity?

· How are you going to rotate your colony and at what speed?

· How will you travel to and from the earth to the space settlement?

2. THE DOCTOR OF MEDICINE

· People need air, water, food and reasonable temperature to survive, how can you provide this?

· How will living in orbit affect the physical make-up of man (anatomy changes, etc.)?

· How can we stay healthy in space?

3. THE DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY

· What psychological problems will be created for inhabitant living for long periods in a space settlement?

· How will inhabitants spend their leisure time? What sports or other recreational activities could be designed?

4. THE SCIENTIST

· How will you generate enough energy to support a space settlement?

· Cosmic rays and solar flares in outer space can create lethal hazards for a space settlement. How will you protect the settlement from radiation?

.
photo source: NASA Ames Research Center

RESOURCES:

SPACE COLONIZATION AND SETTLEMENT WEBSITE LINKS:

Orbital Space Settlements

Space Settlement Basics: answers the basic questions of who, what, when, how and how much.

National Space Settlement Design Competition: annual competition for teams of high school students to design space cities using creativity, teamwork and presentation techniques.

    NASA International Space Station Site: an excellent source for current technology, picture, movies, and answers to all the important questions of why we would colonize space anyway.

Needs in Outer Space: provides lists of human requirements for space living (atmosphere, shielding, food, gravity, etc.)

Space Colony Design

Space Design and Construction: link to Ralston Middle School Industrial Technology. Curriculum project which focuses on design and construction of an international space station and settlement.

The Space Frontier Foundation's related websites' link page: links to organizations interested in opening the space frontier.

BOOKS AND LITERATURE RESOURCES:

NASA'S BIBLIOGRAPHY  ON SPACE SETTLEMENT AND EXPLORATION: lists 12 different books and studies on space settlements.

MAGAZINE ARTICLES:

Oldon, Sara. "Forget About Space Colonization, Biosphere 2 Now Has Modest Goals." Wall Street Journal   -- Eastern Edition, 4/13/95. Vol. 225 Issue 72, page B1.

Dasch, Pat. "In the Dyson Sphere." Ad Astra. Apr92. Vol. 6 Issue 2, page 38.

    Miller, Charles R. "LUNA 2010--the 51st State." Ad Astra. Jul92. Vol. 4 Issue 15, page 59.

    "Gerard K. O'Neill." Aviation Week & Space Technology. 5.4.92. Vol. 136 Issue 18, page 15.

    Nichols, Mark. "Lunar Life Support." Maclean's. 3.16.98. Vol. 111 Issue 11, page 59.

JUST FOR FUN WEBSITES:

MoonBeam Enterprise and Lunar Travel Agency: for a "fantastic" trip

photo source: NASA Ames Research Center

THE CONCLUSION:

When your mission and tasks are completed, your presentation and model will be an excellent reflection of your new knowledge on the subject of space settlements. As a final conclusion to the project, you should submit your model and ideas to NASA AME's Annual Space Colony Design Contest. Good Luck and happy exploration!!

photo source: NASA Ames Research Center

THE EVALUATION:

You will receive three levels of accomplishments (or grades) upon completion of this WebQuest. The possible levels are:

                                        1. A Low Level of Accomplishment (1 point)   
                                        2. A Medium Level of Accomplishment (2 points)
                                        3. A High Level of Accomplishment (3 points)

Your teacher will decide if she/he wishes to attach a letter grade to each level and how the project grade will be incorporated in your term grades.

Here is the criteria in which you will be graded upon:

INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTION	Low Level Accomplishment 1	Medium Level Accomplishment 2	High Level Accomplishment 3	Scoring
Research	Collects very little information -- some relates to the topic	Collects some basic information -- most relates to the topic.	Collects a great deal of information -- all relates to topic
Sharing Information	Relays very little information to their taskforce.	Relays some basic information to their taskforce.	Relays a great deal of information to their taskforce.
Punctuality	Hands in most assignments late.	Hands in most assignments on time.	Hands in all assignments on time.
GROUP CONTRIBUTION	Low Level Accomplishment 1	Medium Level Accomplishment 2	High Level Accomplishment 3	Scoring
Fulfill Team Roles	Performs very little duties	Performs nearly all duties.	Performs all duties of assigned team role.
Task Force's Presentation	Provides too little or irrelevant information	Offers some information, most is relevant	Offers a fair amount of important information, all being relevant.
Balanced Responsibility	No team participation	Some team participation	Contributing member of team.
PRESENTATION AND MODEL	Low Level Accomplishment 1	Medium Level Accomplishment 2	High Level Accomplishment 3	Scoring
Depth of Knowledge	Low knowledge of topics, cannot answer questions pertaining to presentation/model	Basic knowledge of topics, cannot answer questions pertaining to presentation/model	Extensive  knowledge of topics, cannot answer questions pertaining to presentation/model
Visual Aids	Provided no communication aids.	Provided a few interesting and informative communication aids	Communication aids were clear, useful, relevant and appropriate.
Bibliographic Information	1-3 sources cited	3-5 sources cited	5+ sources cited

Note to Teachers: please refer to the NASA AME's The Space Settlement Design Teacher's Page for further information pertaining to this WebQuest and to the contest your students will be able to enter. Suggested time for accomplishing this project is approximately 4 weeks, perhaps 2 class periods per week, with students needing to work outside of class also. The last week could be dedicated to completing the project model and the students giving their 10-15 minutes presentations to the class the last day.

BACK TO TOP

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Created on: March 20, 1999
by Rhue Anne Cosgrove & Lisa Lintner-Sizemore
Last Updated February 2005 by Trisha Armstrong