Friday, December 4, 2009
Gimme Shelter 2009 - Hurricane Proof Houses
Project Based Lab: Building a Hurricane Proof House
What do you get when you combine construction paper, popsicle sticks, aluminum foil, and tape? Seminole Ridge High School science students building Hurricane Proof Houses!
"Hurricane Landstrom" was a leaf blower blown on simply built scale model "houses" to test their resistance. Some withstood the test of the wind and some were destroyed. It was all in the name of science, as the students learned about the force of hurricane winds and construction designs that make houses more durable during strong winds.
During the 2004 hurricane season, over $40 billion in storm damage was done. Florida suffered 4 major hurricanes making landfall, and it is estimated that one in every five homes in the state was damaged. Building homes that better withstand the winds from hurricanes is a consideration in all-future housing starts.
Students were asked to design and build the most wind resistant building you can construct, using the materials provided: "drywall" from two (2) sheets of paper (21.5 by 28.0 cm), lumber from six (6) popsicle sticks (11.5 cm), aluminum siding from one (1) sheet of foil (35.5 cm by 26.0 cm), and adhesives from six (6) pieces of masking tape (random sizes). Their home need to cover an area of at least 500 square centimeters, and students showed their blueprints and calculations before construction.
Lab Notes: Hurricane in a Classroom
Music: Stereogum and tape9 - Lockdown Shelter
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
From Seminole Ridge High to Saturn: Student Semi-Finalists in NASA Contest
Seminole Ridge High School Science teacher Erich Landstrom received out-of-this-world congratulations in May. NASA emailed to say that his physics students in a national contest for an interplanetary mission were semi-finalists. At least one of his students’ essays passed the first round of selection in the Cassini Scientist for a Day essay contest, and they were invited in June to teleconference with scientists studying the planet Saturn remotely by robotic spacecraft.
The Cassini Scientist for a Day contest challenges students to become NASA scientists studying the planet Saturn. Participants examine three target images taken by Cassini and choose the one they think will yield the best science. This choice must then be supported in a 500-word essay.
Mr. Landstrom used it as teaching opportunity for his students to practice their FCAT Writes persuasive essay skills, and encourage excellence in FCAT Science. Juniors Anthony Bass, Alex Cohen, Kris Hansen, and Jessie Twigger are now invited to teleconference with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Using the Distance Learning Classroom in Seminole Ridge’s Biotechology Academy, they can participate in a scientific debate by deciding which imaging target brings the most scientifically interesting results.
Jessie Twigger in his essay wrote in part, “Not every satellite we launch or every telescope we point towards the sky is searching for another Earth but if the chance to learn more about Earth-like planets presents itself, why not seize this opportunity? That is the reason we should be photographing Dione. No – that that is the reason we should be exploring space. Dione is worth all its scientific merit just for the smallest chance that we will discover something that we never even dreamed possible, just for the shear enjoyment of discovering that a distant moon is similar to Earth, and most importantly just for the challenge it presents in understanding such a mystery.”
All semi-finalists’ essays are now being judged to determine the overall contest winners. Winners will be announced in mid June, after the end of the school year for Seminole Ridge. Please visit http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov to see the winners list online when it becomes available
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The cameras on NASA Cassini-Huygens Mission have been taking stunning images of Saturn and its rings and moons for the past five years. These images have helped planetary scientists learn more about this amazing planet Saturn. For most of its tour, Cassini has a chance to point its cameras at various targets, but only one image can be taken at a time. Before each imaging opportunity, Cassini scientists have to decide which image they think would yield the best science. They make a case for specific images, and debate why one image would be better than another. Finally, they agree on which image will be taken. The command to take the image is uplinked to the spacecraft. The image is downlinked to Earth, a billion kilometers away.
In the Cassini Scientist for a Day contest, students get to be the scientists. Seminole Ridge High School physics students learned about possible images that the cameras on Cassini could take on May 25, 2009. Students needed to weigh all the factors and choose one of the targets. What do we already know about Saturn, its rings, and its moons? What do we hope to learn from the image selected? The decision is based on which image would yield the most scientific results, but the artistic value of the image can be an added bonus.
The Cassini Scientist for a Day contest challenges students to become NASA scientists studying the planet Saturn. Participants examine three target images taken by Cassini and choose the one they think will yield the best science. This choice must then be supported in a 500-word essay.
Mr. Landstrom used it as teaching opportunity for his students to practice their FCAT Writes persuasive essay skills, and encourage excellence in FCAT Science. Juniors Anthony Bass, Alex Cohen, Kris Hansen, and Jessie Twigger are now invited to teleconference with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Using the Distance Learning Classroom in Seminole Ridge’s Biotechology Academy, they can participate in a scientific debate by deciding which imaging target brings the most scientifically interesting results.
Jessie Twigger in his essay wrote in part, “Not every satellite we launch or every telescope we point towards the sky is searching for another Earth but if the chance to learn more about Earth-like planets presents itself, why not seize this opportunity? That is the reason we should be photographing Dione. No – that that is the reason we should be exploring space. Dione is worth all its scientific merit just for the smallest chance that we will discover something that we never even dreamed possible, just for the shear enjoyment of discovering that a distant moon is similar to Earth, and most importantly just for the challenge it presents in understanding such a mystery.”
All semi-finalists’ essays are now being judged to determine the overall contest winners. Winners will be announced in mid June, after the end of the school year for Seminole Ridge. Please visit http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov to see the winners list online when it becomes available
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The cameras on NASA Cassini-Huygens Mission have been taking stunning images of Saturn and its rings and moons for the past five years. These images have helped planetary scientists learn more about this amazing planet Saturn. For most of its tour, Cassini has a chance to point its cameras at various targets, but only one image can be taken at a time. Before each imaging opportunity, Cassini scientists have to decide which image they think would yield the best science. They make a case for specific images, and debate why one image would be better than another. Finally, they agree on which image will be taken. The command to take the image is uplinked to the spacecraft. The image is downlinked to Earth, a billion kilometers away.
In the Cassini Scientist for a Day contest, students get to be the scientists. Seminole Ridge High School physics students learned about possible images that the cameras on Cassini could take on May 25, 2009. Students needed to weigh all the factors and choose one of the targets. What do we already know about Saturn, its rings, and its moons? What do we hope to learn from the image selected? The decision is based on which image would yield the most scientific results, but the artistic value of the image can be an added bonus.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Florida Spring 2009 Launch Schedule
Launch Time: April 28, 2009, 6:24 - 7:24 p.m. EDT
Launch Vehicle: United Launch Alliance Delta IV
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station - Launch Pad 37-B
Mission: GOES-O
Description: NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are actively engaged in a cooperative program, the multi-mission Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite series N-P. This series will be a vital contributor to weather, solar and space operations, and science.
Launch time: May 12, 2009, 1:11 p.m. EDT
Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle Atlantis
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39A
Mission: STS-125
Description: Space Shuttle Atlantis will fly seven astronauts into space for the fifth and final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. During the 11-day flight, the crew will repair and improve the observatory's capabilities.
Launch Time: May 21, 2009, 5:32 - 6:32 p.m. EDT
Launch Vehicle: United Launch Alliance Atlas V
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station - Launch Complex 41
Mission: LRO/LCROSS
Description: LRO will launch with the objectives to finding safe landing sites, locate potential resources, characterize the radiation environment and test new technology. The Lunar CRater Observing and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, mission is seeking a definitive answer about the presence or absence of water ice in a permanently shadowed crater at either the Moon's North or South Pole.
Launch time: June 13, 2009, 7:25 a.m. EDT
Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle Endeavour
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39A
Mission: STS-127
Description: Space shuttle Endeavour will deliver the exposed facility of Japan's Kibo laboratory to the International Space Station.
Launch Time: July 11 +
Launch Vehicle: Ares I-X
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39B
Mission: Ares I-X Flight Test
Description: The Ares I-X flight test is NASA's first test for the Agency's new Constellation launch vehicle -- Ares I. The Ares I-X flight will provide NASA with an early opportunity to test and prove flight characteristics, hardware, facilities and ground operations associated with the Ares I.
Launch time: August 6, 2009, ~ 9:25 a.m. EDT
Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle Discovery
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39A
Mission: STS-128
Description: Space shuttle Discovery will use a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module to carry experiment and storage racks to the International Space Station.
Last updated Wednesday, March 25, 2009. Schedule subject to change. For updates, check online at
NASA Launch Manifest
Spaceflight Now
Launch Vehicle: United Launch Alliance Delta IV
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station - Launch Pad 37-B
Mission: GOES-O
Description: NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are actively engaged in a cooperative program, the multi-mission Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite series N-P. This series will be a vital contributor to weather, solar and space operations, and science.
Launch time: May 12, 2009, 1:11 p.m. EDT
Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle Atlantis
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39A
Mission: STS-125
Description: Space Shuttle Atlantis will fly seven astronauts into space for the fifth and final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. During the 11-day flight, the crew will repair and improve the observatory's capabilities.
Launch Time: May 21, 2009, 5:32 - 6:32 p.m. EDT
Launch Vehicle: United Launch Alliance Atlas V
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station - Launch Complex 41
Mission: LRO/LCROSS
Description: LRO will launch with the objectives to finding safe landing sites, locate potential resources, characterize the radiation environment and test new technology. The Lunar CRater Observing and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, mission is seeking a definitive answer about the presence or absence of water ice in a permanently shadowed crater at either the Moon's North or South Pole.
Launch time: June 13, 2009, 7:25 a.m. EDT
Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle Endeavour
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39A
Mission: STS-127
Description: Space shuttle Endeavour will deliver the exposed facility of Japan's Kibo laboratory to the International Space Station.
Launch Time: July 11 +
Launch Vehicle: Ares I-X
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39B
Mission: Ares I-X Flight Test
Description: The Ares I-X flight test is NASA's first test for the Agency's new Constellation launch vehicle -- Ares I. The Ares I-X flight will provide NASA with an early opportunity to test and prove flight characteristics, hardware, facilities and ground operations associated with the Ares I.
Launch time: August 6, 2009, ~ 9:25 a.m. EDT
Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle Discovery
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39A
Mission: STS-128
Description: Space shuttle Discovery will use a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module to carry experiment and storage racks to the International Space Station.
Last updated Wednesday, March 25, 2009. Schedule subject to change. For updates, check online at
NASA Launch Manifest
Spaceflight Now
Saturday, March 7, 2009
NIGHT HUNTERS!
WILD WEDNESDAY EVENING SPEAKER SERIES
AT FOLKE PETERSON WILDLIFE CENTER
10948 ACME ROAD, WELLINGTON
SECOND IN A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL TALKS ABOUT OUR NATIVE FLORIDA WILDLIFE, ECOLOGY, CONSERVATION
NIGHT HUNTERS
An exploration of the night sky and
wildlife who hunt by moonlight.
Lecture and TELESCOPE VIEWING presented by
ERICH LANDSTROM
NASA/JPL Solar System Educator
&
VERED NOGRAD, CVT
Folke Peterson Wildlife Center’s Wildlife Care Manager
WEDNESDAY MARCH 18th at 7:00 pm
FREE ADMISSION/LIGHT REFRESHMENTS
561-793-2473 FOR INFORMATION
AT FOLKE PETERSON WILDLIFE CENTER
10948 ACME ROAD, WELLINGTON
SECOND IN A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL TALKS ABOUT OUR NATIVE FLORIDA WILDLIFE, ECOLOGY, CONSERVATION
NIGHT HUNTERS
An exploration of the night sky and
wildlife who hunt by moonlight.
Lecture and TELESCOPE VIEWING presented by
ERICH LANDSTROM
NASA/JPL Solar System Educator
&
VERED NOGRAD, CVT
Folke Peterson Wildlife Center’s Wildlife Care Manager
WEDNESDAY MARCH 18th at 7:00 pm
FREE ADMISSION/LIGHT REFRESHMENTS
561-793-2473 FOR INFORMATION
Monday, March 2, 2009
Shuttle and Rocket Missions in March
Launch Time: Window 1: 10:49-10:52 p.m. EST, Window 2: 11:13-11:16 p.m. EST on Thursday, March 6
Mission: Kepler
Launch Vehicle: United Launch Alliance Delta II
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station - Launch Complex 17 - Pad 17-B
Description: The Kepler Mission, a NASA Discovery mission, is specifically designed to survey our region of the Milky Way galaxy to detect and characterize hundreds of Earth-size around the habitable zone (and thousands of Jupiter-sized planets outside it).
Launch Time: 8:54 p.m. EDT on Thursday, March 12
Mission: STS-119 • ISS 15A
Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle Discovery
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39A
Description: STS-119 will be the 28th U.S. mission to the International Space Station. Space shuttle Discovery will deliver the Starboard 6 truss segment, giving the station its fourth and final set of power-generating solar wings.
Mission: Kepler
Launch Vehicle: United Launch Alliance Delta II
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station - Launch Complex 17 - Pad 17-B
Description: The Kepler Mission, a NASA Discovery mission, is specifically designed to survey our region of the Milky Way galaxy to detect and characterize hundreds of Earth-size around the habitable zone (and thousands of Jupiter-sized planets outside it).
Launch Time: 8:54 p.m. EDT on Thursday, March 12
Mission: STS-119 • ISS 15A
Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle Discovery
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39A
Description: STS-119 will be the 28th U.S. mission to the International Space Station. Space shuttle Discovery will deliver the Starboard 6 truss segment, giving the station its fourth and final set of power-generating solar wings.
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