Exploring and Living on the Moon Logo.png

Overview

Since NASA first put a man on the moon in 1969, interest in the moon and what it could offer has continued to grow. Recently, NASA has announced plans to have Americans orbit the moon in 2023 and land astronauts on the moon in the late 2020s (https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-unveils-sustainable-campaign-to-return-to-moon-on-to-mars). Yet despite renewed scientific interest in returning to the moon, the moon has played a significant role in shaping and informing human culture and history.

What is it that makes the moon an interest for NASA? What can be gained by spending the money to go back? In this badge you will learn about how the moon has shaped human culture, discover the motivation for returning to the moon, learn about some of the chemistry involved in this motivation, and have the opportunity to apply what you have learned to a real challenge NASA faces.

The goals of this Badge are to:

Learn about the cultural significance of the moon.
Learn about why NASA is interested returning to the moon.
Learn about chemical concepts and properties related to the lunar science.
Explore technologies that will help send astronauts to the moon.
Gain a deeper understanding of the planning and preparation for long term lunar exploration.

Intended Audience: Students enrolled in grades 9-12.

Time to Complete: 4 Hours

Badge Criteria:

Watch several videos that explain why NASA is invested in revisiting the moon.
Read infographics that explain the purpose of lunar mining.
Watch several videos that explain chemical reactions.
Engage in a lab experiment to produce oxygen gas.
Develop a plan for preparing to embark on a trip to the moon.

Click here to begin the steps of the badge.