WELCOME TO: Educational Technology

WELCOME TO:

Educational Technology



This material is part of the NASA JSC document: SPACE EDUCATORS' HANDBOOK which is designated as document number OMB / NASA Report Number S677.

CONCEPT

Using the following HTML program familiarize the student with the design of manned spacecraft systems. Next, have the students sketch and analyze science fiction rockets, robots, etc. found in movies, comics, and novels. (SCIENCE FICTION / SPACE TECHNOLOGY : TOOLS FOR LEARNING features numerous examples of this process.)

Ask the students to find:

(1) What technology exhibited by these sci-fi devices is currently possible? (Study existing technology - space shuttles, space stations, lasers, robots - similar to the selected items.)

(2) What is probably not possible with today's technology?

(3) What new technology is needed to make the science fiction devices work?

(4) Finally, for extra credit, design (add to the original sketch) items overlooked by the science fiction author or artist that should have been included to make the science fiction device work.



SYSTEMS REQUIRED BY MANNED SPACECRAFT

Spacecraft, like automobiles, require certain basic systems to function properly. Among these systems are: PROPULSION (engines), GUIDANCE (steering), LIFE SUPPORT (air to breathe, food and water), CABIN QUARTERS (manned operations and living area), COMMUNICATIONS (radio transmission and reception), THERMAL PROTECTION (isolation from the extreme temperatures of space as well as the heat of reentry), DISPLAYS AND CONTROLS (a means of flying/controlling and monitoring the status of the spacecraft's performance - switches and gauges).

SCIENCE FICTION MANNED SPACECRAFT SYSTEMS

Science fiction authors, artists, and illustrators generally portray the same basic systems as listed above in their literature and art. This document discusses the fictitious scientific substitutes for the above systems. Additionally, the science fiction spacecraft technology study reviews historic sci-fi artwork for scientific feasibility in light of current knowledge of spacecraft technology. Obviously, much art is drawn simply to represent the appearance of space technology. The illustrator ignores technical details achieving the desired effect through "artistic license." For this reason, no criticism of the reviewed artwork is intended. Some of the most impressive illustrations exhibit the greatest number of scientific incompatibilites.

The above twentieth century space systems have counterparts in the world of sci-fi technology: PROPULSION: (FTL - faster than light propulsion, Cavorite-antigravity material, warp drive - a means of exceeding the speed of light), GUIDANCE (steering without thrusters, spherical thrusters), LIFE SUPPORT (generation ships, hibernation biology, suspended animation, cryonics), CABIN STRUCTURE (space arks, world spaceships), COMMUNICATIONS (mental telepathy, molecular transporters),THERMAL PROTECTION (often ignored), DISPLAYS AND CONTROLS (standard video viewers as well as telepathy techniques).