Tenth Grade, Space Exploration Science Projects (33 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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w-QVXjGk3A

Correlation of Coronal Mass Ejections with the Solar Sunspot Cycle

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Scientists have known for hundreds of years that sunspot activity waxes and wanes over a cycle that lasts approximately 11 years. In the 1970's, scientists discovered that the sun periodically blasts electrified gases into space, in huge outbursts called 'coronal mass ejections,' or CMEs. This project asks the question: do CMEs follow the solar sunspot cycle? Read more

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

Planet Hunters TESS

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is a space telescope for NASA's Explorers program, designed to search for exoplanets using the transit method in an area 400 times larger than that covered by the Kepler mission. It was launched on April 18, 2018 atop a Falcon 9 rocket. During its two-year primary mission, it was expected to find more than 20,000 transiting exoplanets, compared to about 3,800 exoplanets known when it launched. The first light image from TESS was taken on August… Read more

Recycle Urine into Drinking Water for Astronauts

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever wondered how astronauts eat and drink in space? Where does their food and water come from? Water, in particular, is quite heavy, so delivering it to space is incredibly expensive. Instead, on spaceships and space stations like the International Space Station (ISS), it is most efficient to recycle water. This includes recycling urine! In this science project, you will use methods similar to those used on the ISS to investigate how urine can be recycled into clean drinking water. 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

Using the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory Satellite (SOHO) to Measure the Motion of a Coronal Mass Ejection

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

The sun sometimes releases huge bursts of electrified gases into space. These bursts are called coronal mass ejections (or CMEs). When CMEs are directed towards Earth they can generate auroras, the spectacular atmospheric displays also known as "northern lights" (photo by Chris VenHaus, 2001). In this project you'll use images from the SOHO satellite to measure how fast CMEs move. 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

Using Kepler Space Telescope Data to Identify an Exoplanet

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

The Kepler space telescope is a retired space telescope launched by NASA to discover Earth-size planets orbiting other stars. Named after astronomer Johannes Kepler, the spacecraft was launched on March 7, 2009, into an Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit. The principal investigator was William J. Borucki. After nine years of operation, the telescope's reaction control system fuel was depleted, and NASA announced its retirement on October 30, 2018. Designed to survey a portion of Earth's region… 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

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

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