Teachable Moment: Explorer 1 Anniversary Marks 60 Years of Science in Space This month marks the 60th anniversary of the launch of America's first satellite, Explorer 1. The small, pencil-shaped satellite did more than launch the U.S. into the Space Age. With its collection of instruments, or scientific tools, it turned space into not just a new frontier, but also a place of boundless scientific exploration that could eventually unveil secrets of new worlds – as well as the mysteries of our own planet. In the latest Teachable Moment from NASA/JPL Edu, education specialist Ota Lutz explains how a team at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, modified an Army rocket to make the first scientific study from space possible – and how data from Explorer 1 is still inspiring tantilizing new questions today. Find out how to engage students in this important piece of space history on the NASA/JPL Edu Teachable Moments blog: Read the Blog   Related Lessons and Activities Get students building their own rockets and model satellites, plus learning about how NASA studies Earth from space today with these standards-aligned lessons from NASA/JPL Edu: *NEW* Build a Satellite (Grades 5-8) – Students will use the engineering design process to design, build, test and improve a model satellite intended to investigate the surface of a planet. Get started Rocket Lessons and Activities (Grades K-9) – Use these exciting lessons to help your students experience the thrill of building and launching their own rockets using the engineering design process! Get started Earth Science Lessons and Activities (Grades K-12) – Use these lessons to engage your students in studying Earth from space! Get started Game: Build Your Own Space Mission – Have younger students play this game to place instruments aboard a spacecraft and launch it into space! Read more Download the GLOBE Observer app and have students be citizen scientists in support of NASA Earth science missions! Learn more about how to participate.

 

NASA/JPL Edu
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
4800 Oak Grove Dr
Pasadena, CA 91109