In this Engineering Design Challenge, you must design and build a radiation shield to absorb or reflect as much visible and ultraviolet light as possible. The shield will also be subject to tests for flexibility, ballistic impact, and load bearing. For testing, the shield must completely cover the entire opening of the test chamber. If the design survives all dry tests, immerse your design in water for ten seconds and repeat all tests. The mass of the shield may not exceed 300 g, but should be as light as possible. The thickness of the shielding may not exceed 2 cm, but should be as thin as possible.
Objective:
Student teams will design a shielding device to solve the problem of how to protect our astronauts from space radiation.
Grade Level:
5-8
Time Required:
Approximately 10 – 20 Hours
Plan Your Challenge
Deliver Your Challenge
Introductory Video for Students
Videos
Websites
- Orion Radiation Handout
- NASA’s Space Radiation Analysis Group
- How do we protect the astronauts from space radiation?
- International Space Station Research and Technology
- Human Research Program: Space Radiation Program Element
- Fire Away, Sun and Stars! Shields to Protect Future Space Crews
- Space Trash May Make Radiation Shields
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