Celebrate the History of Space Flight

Screenshot from First Orbit (the movie), created by FirstOrbit.org.

Today marks the 50 year anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's 108-minute, first human in space, orbit of the Earth on April 12, 1961. It's a big day in the history of space exploration and flight!

To join in the celebration, make a bit of "space" in your day for some space history!

• Make contact.

  Students (or classes) interested in space studies can try and make contact with astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). Our HAMing It Up with the Astronauts* project can help get them started.
  
  

• Explore liftoff.
  Students can learn more about the power behind liftoff when they use an online NASA simulator to design an ion engine, part of a propulsion system which is replacing the standard chemical propulsion system.

  
  

• Think big.

  Students can explore a range of astro-related science projects in the Science Buddies Project Ideas Directory.

  
  

• Look ahead.

  Explore a space- and astronomy-related careers, including Aerospace Engineer and Astronomer.
  

  
  

• Tune in.

  Don't miss First Orbit, a free hour-and-a-half YouTube video that weaves together original footage and new footage from the ISS to recreate, in real time, that first flight. Class popcorn party anyone?

You Might Also Enjoy These Related Posts:

• 10 Projects to Get Started Building Circuits on a Breadboard!
• Students Race to the Finish with Solar Sprint Cars
• Explore Crater Science to Celebrate Moon Landing Anniversary
• STEM is for Everyone: Temple Grandin, Animal Scientist with Autism
• 5 STEM Activities with Marshmallow Peeps
• 16 Women in Engineering to Learn More About
• Free Resources Support Teacher's Innovative STEM Academy
• 25 Women in Science to Learn More About