Practical exercise 4 (Suitable for older students): HOW TO FIND OUT WHETHER WE ARE ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE OR JUST ONE AMONG MANY?

Aim:

Students will learn about the research methods and activities the scientists use to study the cosmos and aim to suggest a plan for a future mission in space.

Instructions for the teacher and preparation for the activity:

In order to conduct a scientific mission, the scientists follow a strategy that includes three steps: а) initial information gathering - careful observation of the target with the help of a close fly-by of a space craft which gathers information about the body (say a planet) and sends it back to base; b) longer observation - can be done with the help of another space craft in orbit around the body, which will observe it for much longer time and with the help of different instruments records volcanic, geodesic and atmospheric changes and conditions; c) detailed study - people or robots land on the surface and study the conditions in a small region in detail (similar to the manned landings on the Moon and the robotic missions to Mars).

1. Using information from the web pages if the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, discuss the following questions (alternatively questions 1 to 5 can be given for homework, so the students gather information by themselves or with the help of their parents and then discuss in class):

1.1 The landings on the Moon, the robotic missions to Mars and other planets and bodies in the Solar system (e.g. Jupiter’s moon Europa). What instruments and methods are used to search for life during these missions?

1.2 Does anybody know or have heard about future missions of that sort? What are their scientific objectives? Can they find information about them using internet?

1.3 Which missions do they find most interesting?

1.4 Are there missions that the students would like to be part of? In what role?

1.5 Which of the following the students find more exciting - the colonization of other planets by humans, or finding any kind of extraterrestrial life? Why?

2. Divide the class in teams of 4 students each. Each student in the team need to choose one of the roles: Scientist - studies the available information and decides what additional observations need to be performed; Mission Leader - names the mission and decides what space crafts will be needed for each stage; Mission Control - decides on the order of the flights and how data will be returned back to Earth; Flight Control - responsible for the launch of the space crafts, timetables, collecting the data and giving it to the Scientist. After the teams are selected and roles are appointed, give the instructions below to each team.

Instructions for the students:

With the help of a space craft, flying by, a group of astronomers have observed a distant star in Our galaxy and have discovered a planet that might have life on it. Meanwhile, ESA and NASA have discovered a method for a very fast travel in space and ask your team to propose a plan for an expedition to this planet. Following the instructions below, prepare a plan for the expedition to the planet.

1. Determine the scientific goal of your team.

2. Make a plan for initial gathering of information. To what questions about the planet you want to get an answer? What data exactly are you going to gather about the planet’s characteristics, its surface and atmosphere?

3. Based on this initial information, make a plan for a longer observation of the planet, which should study the volcanic, geodesic and atmospheric changes and conditions on the planet.

4. Taking into account your team’s scientific goals, describe the detailed studies that your team will make on the surface. Will the mission be manned or robotic? Since you can only study in detail a small portion of the surface, the choice of the region to land is very important for your project. Where will you land? Why there? What do you expect to learn and why is it important?

5. How will you send back to the scientists on Earth the gathered information?

6. Prepare a 5-minute presentation about your project to give to the other teams.

7. Discuss with the rest of the class all the projects of all the teams.