Protect Your 'Eggstronaut': Build an Egg-Drop Lander

Introduction

The egg-drop project is a classic and time-honored tradition in many science classes. The goal is usually to build a device that can protect an egg when dropped from a high location. This activity puts a twist on the classic project, motivated by real-world advances in space exploration. Can you build a reusable egg-drop lander that can survive repeated falls from the same height? Try this activity and find out

Credits

Materials

• Paper and pencil
• Raw eggs
• Paper towels for cleanup
• Assorted craft and construction materials such as popsicle sticks, paper cups, egg cartons, cardboard, etc.
• Cushioning materials like cotton balls, bubble wrap, Styrofoam®, etc.
• Tape and/or glue
• Optional: materials to build a parachute, like string and a plastic bag
• Area to drop the egg that will be easy to clean up in case the egg breaks