Topic outline

  • From Earth to Interstellar Space

    Updated 2/23/2024

    Written by: Frances Dellutri, NSS Director of Education, Libertyville, IL

    Workshop presenters;
    Margie Corp

    Kathy Gustafson

    Frances Dellutri

    Lynne Zielinski

    Grade (Age) Level: Ages 6- 12


    Key Topics Associated with Standards:
    Astronomy, Drakes Equation,  Golden Record, Heliospause, Magnetic Field,  Pioneer,  satellite, Solar System, Voyager

    Background: 

    This material is the product of a workshop presented at Yerkes Observatory, Williams Bay, WI by Lynne Zielinski and Frances Dellutri to teachers of ages 6-12. The workshop followed the path of Voyagers 1 and 2 as they leave our solar system headed for deep space. Time was given to discuss the implications of such interstellar travel.

    Various presentations and activities centered around the actual path of the satellites as well as the communication of the satellites back to Earth. A tour of Yerkes Observatory was included in the full day workshop.


  • Agenda for Workshop

  • The History of the Voyager Mission

    Voyager SpacecraftThis PowerPoint explains the Voyager Mission in terms of the development and the objectives, the triumphs, and the ongoing importance of a mission begun 40 years ago. A snapshot of The Golden Record. a  is also included in this presentation, a type of  'message in a bottle' for intelligent beings found else wehre in interstellar space. The introduction sets the stage for the other activities in the "From Earth to Interstellar Space' Workshop.
    • A drawing showing how the velocities of Voyager increased with the slingshot gravitational planetary assists.The planetary configuration allowed the Voyager to gain speed and shortened its voyage to the edge of interstellar space.  This is a simple mathematical explanation of just how those slingshots helped the Voyagers!

    • These plans were created by John Jogerst and are permitted for personal or educational use only.  Not for commercial use.

      The scale is 1:48 and best to be printed on cardstock.

  • Making a 2-D Model of the Voyager Spacecraft Distances

    Voyager and the heliosphereThe Voyager spacecrafts have travelled astronomical distance, a concept often hard to imagine.  With this 2-D model, students can begin to grasp the incredible accomplishments of a spacecraft launched with  1977 technology and which has now sailed into interstellar space. 
    Information on the heliopause and termination points fo the heliosphere add to the interest of this model.
  • Capturing A Whisper From Space




    This exercise gives

    gives students and teachers a mathematical model of how the Deep Space Network antennas work and how the antennas concentrate electromagnetic radio waves in a single direction.  The lab involves testing different sized sound receivers to understand the importance of the size of the receivers on the antennae of the Deep Space Network.

  • The Golden Record

    The Golden RecordPrior to the Voyager mission, Pioneer 10 and 11 carried a plaque which identified the place and origin  of our humanity for future space travelers. The Golden Record  for the Voyager mission was much a much more involved project than the Pioneer plaques and was a compilation of approximate 120 images, 50 greetings in spoken languages, and about 90 minutes of  music as a message of the civilizations on Earth in 1977 sent into interstellar space for intelligent life found elsewhere. The building of the record is discussed to prepare participants for an activity in determining the best representations that would go on a Golden Record of today for intelligent life to discover perhaps billions of years in the future, after our world ceases to exist.

    For more information on the Golden Record which was attached to Voyager 1 and 2, go to NASA's Golden Record .

    Activity:  In groups of 2 -3 compose a list of the sounds of humanity that your group feels would capture our Earthly humanity.
    • Tim Blais in a physicist from Canada who  did a capella stuff while in
      school.  He had a video on string theory (Bohemian Gravity) go viral about
      when he finished his masters, and so started working on amazing
      science education / A Capella music cover songs. The song is a parody of the  Aladdin movie title song, "A Whole New World" and  sings about findings of exoplanets since they were first detected n 1990. This  8.5 min  video  has a lot of information on exoplanets - would they harbor civilizations of intelligent life?


       

       

  • Determination of Possible Intelligent Civiliaztions in the Milky Way Galaxy

    Frank DrakeHow can we estimate the number of technological civilizations that might exist among the stars? While working as a radio astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia, Dr. Frank Drake conceived an approach to bound the terms involved in estimating the number of technological civilizations that may exist in our galaxy. The Drake Equation, as it has become known, was first presented by Drake in 1961 and identifies specific factors thought to play a role in the development of such civilizations. Although there is no unique solution to this equation, it is a generally accepted tool used by the scientific community to examine these factors.
    • This presentation provides background information on the Drake and Saeger mathematical approaches for estimating the occurrence of life outside Earth.

    • This exercise involves using two mathematical models to estimate the possibility of  life outside Earth.  One model was developed by Frank Drake  in 1961 and his estimates for intelligent life form occurrence. Sarah Saeger has modified the equation to consider the presence of any life forms on exoplanets. Try the two methods and see where the numbers lead you!

    • This 21 minute video presents some interesting information to ponder.

  • Postcards to Space!

    Send a Postcard to Space through NSS Supported Blue Origin Club For The Future initiative!

    Learn more about how Blue Origin is sending YOUR postcard to space so you can have a space artifact!

    Visit: SpacEdge Academy Postcards in Space Course

    An image of Postcards to Space sign is noted.