Eleventh Grade, Space Exploration Projects, Lessons, Activities (Page 3)

Explore Satellites with Powerful Simulation Software

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

The first man-made satellite, the Sputnik 1, was launched in 1957. As of late 2020, more than 2,600 man-made satellites orbit Earth, with a little over 70% of them in low Earth orbit. If you would like to delve into how satellites and their sensors are configured, or into how their orbits are planned—and do not shy away from a little programming—this project is for you! With the help of FreeFlyer®—powerful software that allows you to simulate satellite orbit and… Read more

Keep Your Arduino Robot From Falling Off a Cliff

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Humans cannot see infrared light, but robots can! At least, they can when they use special infrared light sensors. These sensors can help robots detect nearby objects to avoid collisions and even help them avoid driving off edges. In this project you will build your own Arduino robot that uses infrared sensors to avoid driving off the edge of a table. Read more

Mars Terrain Exploration: A Hands-On Coding Investigation

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever wondered what the surface of Mars is really like close up? Are you wondering what the Mars rovers get to see and experience? Some parts of Mars look smooth and sandy, whereas others are covered in rocks and rough terrain. In this project, you’ll step into the role of a planetary scientist and use real Mars rover images and Python code to detect, measure, and compare rocks across different types of Martian terrain. Here you’ll explore how image processing can help… Read more

Measuring Height Or Distances with a Camera

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

If you know or calculate the field of view for your camera, you can use it to measure distances and the height of almost anything. It's all a matter of basic trigonometry. Read more

Rocket Catcher Challenge for Grades 9-12

Lesson Plan Grade: 9th-12th

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In this fun engineering lesson plan, your students will build a rocket-catching device to help a falling rocket land vertically without crashing, using simple and readily-available materials. Elementary and middle school versions of this lesson plan are also available. This lesson was part of the 2025 Science Buddies Engineering Challenge. Read more

NGSS Performance Expectations:

High School - Science & Engineering Practices

What is the Cheapest Way to Launch Payloads into Space?

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

A mass driver is a proposed device that could launch payloads into space using a long tube lined with electromagnets (Figure 1). Some scientists argue that such a launch system would offer long-term cost savings over the use of chemical rockets. Scientists have proposed theoretical electromagnetic launcher designs as far back as the 1970s (O'Neill 1979). More recently, some have proposed the use of railguns originally developed for the U.S. Navy (McNab and McGlasson 2022). Other types of… Read more

Build a Model Satellite with Arduino

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Have you ever wondered how satellites steer themselves? How can a spy satellite aim its camera? How can a satellite keep its solar panels oriented toward the sun? In this project, you will learn about one method satellites use to control their orientation, called a reaction wheel, and build your own working prototype of a miniature satellite. Read more

We Have Liftoff

Lesson Plan Grade: 9th-12th

Building on an introduction to statics, dynamics free-body diagrams, combustion and thermodynamics provided by the associated lesson, students design, construct and test their own rocket engines using sugar and potassium nitrate—an opportunity to apply their knowledge of stoichiometry. This activity helps students understand that the energy required to launch a rocket comes from the chemical energy stored in the rocket fuel. The performance of each engine is tested… Read more

NGSS Performance Expectations:

HS-PS3-3. Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.

Eleventh Grade, Space Exploration Projects, Lessons, Activities (28 results)

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