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Eighth Grade, Space Exploration Science Projects (27 results)

Space exploration is an exciting and wide-ranging area. Getting into space (and back down) is hard, involving rockets and launch vehicles, satellites, spacecraft, re-entry systems, landers and rovers, robots, and orbital mechanics, not to mention hypothetical technologies like space elevators and artificial gravity. To survive and thrive in space, we must understand many additional issues such as human performance in space, the space economy, and the science of astronomical bodies.

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How the Cookie Crumbles... in Space
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Have you ever wondered what astronauts eat in space? What types of restrictions are there on the foods they can enjoy? It turns out that crumbs can be a huge problem on spaceships and space stations like the International Space Station (ISS). Crumbs can float around in zero gravity, squeeze into electrical panels, where they may cause fires, and get sucked into and clog air filtration systems. In this science project, you will investigate which ingredients are most important for creating the… Read more
A Simulator for Suborbital Spacecraft
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Have you ever wished you could fly to space? Space flight is getting more accessible thanks to reusable rockets that make getting to space much cheaper. Civilian astronauts can even buy tickets for a few minutes in space! But exactly how high is "space"? How do engineers predict how high a rocket will go and figure out how to make it land safely? Find out in this project as you explore the physics of suborbital space flight.  Read more
Grow Plants in Microgravity with an Arduino Clinostat
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Can humans grow food in space? Can we grow plants on the Moon or on a space station? This is an important question to answer as humans look to expand our existence to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. In this science project you will build a clinostat, a device that can simulate microgravity right here on Earth and use it to explore the effects of microgravity on plant growth. Read more
How Do You Protect Spacecraft from Space Debris?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
You might not think a chip of paint could cause a lot of damage, but what if it is traveling 18,000 miles per hour? That is the reality astronauts face on the International Space Station (ISS). Learn how engineers protect the ISS from space debris in this fun science project as you build your own model spacecraft shield and conduct your own impact tests! Read more
What's The Best Way to Land a Model Rocket?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
What's the best way to land a model rocket? What makes the rocket hit the ground safely at a low speed? What prevents the rocket from drifting too far if it's windy? In this project, you will make your own rockets from paper towel tubes and drop them to test different recovery methods like parachutes and streamers. What method do you think will work the best?  Read more
How Does the Number of Parachutes Affect Terminal Velocity?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Have you ever wondered how astronauts land safely back on Earth? Many spaceships use a small crew capsule with multiple large parachutes to bring the astronauts down to a gentle landing either on the ground or in the ocean. What happens if one or more of the parachutes fails to deploy? Can the astronauts still land safely? Find out as you explore the physics of falling with parachutes in this project.  Read more
NASA Asteroid Database: What Can You Learn About Our Solar System?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Did you know that in addition to the Sun and planets, our solar system is filled with millions of asteroids, which are chunks of rock left over from the early days of its formation, or from collisions between larger objects like planets? Agencies like NASA track asteroids, not only because they might pose a threat to humanity by colliding with Earth, but because they can provide us with information about the history of our solar system, and even be useful for mining raw materials in space! In… Read more
How Does Dust Affect Solar Panel Power Output?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Scientists can use solar power to provide electricity on the Moon or Mars, but there is one big problem—dust! How does dust cover impact the power output of a solar panel? How could scientists and astronauts mitigate this problem to keep the solar panels producing at their maximum output? Try this science project yourself and find out! Read more
Rocket Science: How High Can You Send a Payload?
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
Rockets are definitively an engineering challenge. These amazing gravity-defying machines have lifted test material, people, and even animals into space. Feel like building one yourself? In this science project, you will transform a water bottle into an aerodynamic bottle rocket with two compartments, one for the fuel and one for a payload. You will then test how well it performs when lifting mass vertically up into the air. Ready, set, soar! Read more
Solid Motor Rocket Propulsion
Science Fair Project Idea
Scientific Method
What does it take to launch a robot to Mars or for a satellite to explore our outer solar system? In this project you will explore the physics of a rocket as you predict its performance, launch it, and measure the actual results. This is rocket science! Read more
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