5. Hazards in Space

Setup: Prep Time 50 min.

• Print, cut, and assemble Card Deck E for each small group.

*See Materials & Preparation in the Educator Guide linked above for full info.

21st Century Skills

• Critical Thinking

Science Practices

• Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Learners Will Do

• Learn about hazards on the Moon, Mars, and asteroids.
• Match mitigation strategies with hazards in the card game, using different cards.

Learners Will Know

• Scientists compare hazards on Earth to hazards in space to think about ways to mitigate them.

Connecting Across Adventures

• Adventure 4: Earth Hazards: Last time, learners learned about hazards on Earth and explored the ways that people have developed to mitigate some of them.
• Adventure 5: Hazards in Space: Today, learners will learn that hazards also exist in space, some are the same as they are on Earth, and some are different.
• Adventure 5: Mitigate Hazards for Your Mission: Next time, learners will choose a NASA mission and think about the hazards, mitigation strategies, and other factors NASA should consider.

Level Up! (Optional)

• Share information about how astronauts with various abilities have improved and continue to improve NASA’s spaceflight program in webpage “About Mission: AstroAccess.” (5 min.)
• Ask this story prompt question: What is a problem you have faced that is similar to a hazard in space? Have learners share with a partner. Tell learners, if anyone asks them what they did today, they can tell them “We played a card game to learn about hazards in space and how to mitigate them, or make them less bad” and ask them the above story prompt question.
• NASA has learned a lot about how to mitigate hazards in space from time spent by astronauts on the International Space Station. Learn more about these hazards in 5 Hazards of Human Spaceflight – NASA. (5 min.)