PSA:
The Astronaut's Helper
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In PSA:
The Astronaut's Helper,
students will be introduced
to the Personal Satellite
Assistant (PSA), a small,
spherical robot that assists
astronauts with their chores
on space-based vehicles.
Students will learn about
different types of robots
and the mechanical systems
on the PSA that must work
together for the PSA to
function. In the web activity,
students interact with a
simulation of the PSA and
learn how forces affect motion
in a low-friction, microgravity
environment. Students learn
that scientists need to shrink
the PSA, and they engage
in a hands-on activity where
they find the maximum surface
area of a computer component
that must fit into a smaller
PSA. By conducting inquiry-based
and web activities, students
will make connections between
NASA research and the mathematics,
science, and technology they
learn in their classrooms. |
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