Let's Explore Rockets!
Background and The Schools' Observatory
The Schools' Observatory is an initiative of Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), based within the Astrophysics Research Institute in Liverpool, United Kingdom.
The mission of the organization is to utilize the wonders of space to inspire future generations of scientists, programmers, and engineers.
They offer several services, including resources for schools, support for teachers, and free access to the world's largest robotic telescope via their website: schoolsobservatory.org.
In a specific partnership with the Durham Book Festival's Little Read, the organization created resource packs for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children.
These resources are designed to complement the children's story "Look up" by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dapo Adeola.
The main character of the book is Rocket, a girl who aspires to be the greatest astronaut, star-catcher, and space-traveller in history.
Rocket is described as being totally prepared for her future, having already "defied gravity… captured rare and exotic life forms… and built a ship to the stars!"
The educational material focuses on the topic of rockets and spaceships, which Rocket refers to as "a ship to the stars."
Understanding Rockets and Spacecraft
Definition of Rockets: Rockets are machines used to power people and objects into space. Specifically, any aircraft or spacecraft powered by a rocket engine is considered a rocket.
Mechanism of a Rocket Engine: A rocket engine functions similarly to a car engine by burning fuel to generate motion. In this process, fuel is ignited to produce hot gas.
Propulsion Physics: The hot gas is expelled from the bottom of the rocket, which pushes the craft upwards in the opposite direction.
The Balloon Analogy: This principle can be demonstrated by releasing an inflated balloon. As the air is pushed out, the balloon moves in the opposite direction of the escaping air.
Definition of Spacecraft/Spaceships: These are distinct from the rocket itself. The spacecraft is the storage area for people or equipment being sent to space, typically situated at the very top of the rocket.
Payload Variety: While often associated with human travel, spacecraft also transport robots and scientific equipment.
Orbital Flight: Once the spacecraft reaches space, it controls its own flight. In the environment of space, the craft is free from the effects of gravity, causing objects and people inside to float.
Atmospheric Re-entry and Landing: When returning to Earth, the spacecraft falls through the atmosphere. As it approaches the surface, it deploys a parachute to slow its descent before performing a "splashdown" in the ocean.
Components of a Rocket Structure
Rockets are divided into four primary parts:
Structure: This is the main body of the rocket containing all other components. It is typically a long cylinder with a pointy top and fins at the base.
Propulsion System: Located at the bottom of the rocket, this is essentially the rocket engine. It contains the fuel and oxidizer, along with pumps and a nozzle. This is where the fuel is mixed and ignited.
Guidance System: Positioned near the top of the rocket, this small system communicates the rocket's orientation to people on the ground. Ground controllers can then adjust the rocket's direction using onboard computers.
Payload/Nose Cone: This is the pointy top section of the rocket, often referred to as the spacecraft. It contains everything intended to reach space and, usually, return to Earth.
Modern Rocketry and Global Capabilities
Current Primary Use: Most rockets in use today are relatively small and intended to place satellites into Earth's orbit.
Major Modern Rockets:
Ariane 5 (Europe)
Proton-M (Russia)
Falcon-9 (United States)
Long March (China)
Emerging Capabilities: Other nations with currently working rockets or plans for new ones within the next years include India, Japan, New Zealand, Israel, and South Korea.
Current Limitations: There are currently no operational rockets capable of transporting humans to the Moon, Mars, or any destination further than the International Space Station (ISS).
The Challenge of Deep Space Exploration
Mars Development: NASA and the private company SpaceX are developing rockets for human travel to Mars, with expected readiness no earlier than .
Distance Metrics:
The Moon is approximately further from the Earth than the International Space Station.
Mars is approximately further away from the Earth than the Moon.
Fuel and Weight Constraints: Deep space travel requires significantly more fuel. However, increasing fuel increases the weight of the rocket, making it harder to lift off the ground.
Interstellar Scale: Space is vast and largely empty. The closest star to Earth (after the Sun) is Proxima Centauri, which is over ( trillion kilometers) away.
Speed Comparison:
At the speed of light (), it would take over years to reach Proxima Centauri.
Using realistic speeds from the Apollo missions (), it would take approximately years to reach the star.
Living and Working in Space
Gravity Effects: The primary difference in space living is the lack of gravity. This makes tasks like drinking, brushing teeth, and general movement much more difficult.
Biological Impact on Humans:
Muscles weaken due to lack of use.
Calcium leaves the bones.
Changes occur in blood flow throughout the body.
Changes occur in ocular (eye) pressure.
Astronaut Qualifications: Modern astronauts typically require a degree in a science or engineering subject to handle technical skills, maintenance, and experiments.
Training Period: It takes approximately years to train as an astronaut.
Training Curricula: This includes learning to fly the spacecraft, understanding space suit operations, studying mission experiments, and language training.
Bilingual Requirements: Most current missions require astronauts to be proficient in both English and Russian.
Practical Activity 1: Model Rocket Construction
Junk Rockets: Created using recycled materials (trash) to build a long cylinder with a pointy top and side fins.
Stomp Rockets: These use air for launching. They can be purchased with foam rockets or custom-made. They must fit tightly to the launcher and are launched vertically. Safety involves ensuring students are clear of the launch zone.
Bottle Rockets:
A paper rocket is placed over an open plastic bottle.
The user claps their hands against the sides of the bottle to squash it, releasing air that propels the rocket upward.
Straw Rockets:
Paper is wrapped around a pencil to form a cylinder, taped, and fitted with fins.
The top edge is folded over the pencil point and taped shut.
The pencil is replaced with a straw, and the user blows into the straw to launch.
Scientific data can be gathered by measuring and recording flight distances.
Bicarbonate of Soda and Vinegar Rocket (Chemical Propulsion):
Resources: Empty bottle, baking soda, pencils, cork, tape, kitchen roll, white vinegar, scissors.
Step 1: Tape pencils to the bottle so it stands stable with the nozzle at least from the ground.
Step 2: Shape the cork carefully with scissors if it is too large; it should fit but not be too tight.
Step 3: Prepare 'fuel packets' by placing tablespoons of baking soda on a piece of kitchen roll, folding edges, and rolling it thin enough to fit the bottle. Pour of vinegar into the bottle.
Step 4: Slide the fuel packet into the bottle, insert the cork, stand it up nozzle-down, and move away immediately.
Step 5: The reaction produces carbon dioxide gas, building pressure until the cork and 'fuel' are forced downward, propelling the bottle upward.
Safety Warning: Launch outdoors only. Wind can impact stability. Move at least away immediately. If a rocket fails, an adult must retrieve it carefully as it will be highly pressurized.
Practical Activity 2: Mission Control Simulation
Role Play Setup: Create an area with 'computer' buttons and walkie-talkies for communication. Include a large map of Earth to track the spacecraft and info cards on astronaut health.
Space Careers/Jobs:
Doctor: Checks astronaut health.
Engineer: Monitors rocket status.
Spacecraft Operator: Controls the rocket during the launch phase.
CAPCOM: The specific individual who speaks directly to the astronauts.
Ground Controller: Monitors the rocket's flight path/direction.
Flight Director: Leads the entire team and ensures mission success.
Practical Activity 3 & 4: Parachutes and Soundscapes
Parachute Mechanics: Spacecraft must travel slowly when they reach water for a safe splashdown. Most use parachutes to aid floating.
Experimentation: Children can build parachutes using fabric, paper, string, craft sticks, and straws, then time the fall of objects from a set height to record results.
Soundscape Stages:
Launch: Sequential countdown followed by intense engine noise.
Space: Absolute silence. Because sound requires a medium like air to travel, there is no sound in the vacuum of space.
Re-entry: High noise as the craft passes through the atmosphere; friction causes the outside to burn.
Landing: Parachutes open for a gentle descent followed by the final splashdown in the ocean.
Communication and Additional Resources
Makaton Signs: Educational videos, such as those from the Lightyear Foundation, demonstrate signs for terms like Space, Rocket, Astronaut, Earth, and Moon.
Visual Inspiration/Case Studies:
Apollo 11 (1969): Historic Moon mission launch.
Space Shuttle (2007): Modern shuttle launch.
Ariane 5 (2021): Features French commentary and countdown.
Falcon 9 (2015): Demonstrates cutting-edge reusability where the rocket lands back on Earth after launch to reduce waste (space trash) and costs.
Falcon Heavy (2018): Sent a car with a mannequin toward Mars; featured two booster rockets landing in tandem while the main stage crashed into the sea.
SpaceX Failure Compilation: A lesson in perseverance, showing the numerous failed attempts at landing rockets before the technology was perfected.
Questions & Discussion
What is the role of NASA and SpaceX in the next decade? They are developing the tech to reach Mars by approximately .
Why is space travel to other stars currently impossible? The distances are too vast ( trillion km to the nearest star), and even at high speeds (), it would take over years.
What are the primary languages of space? English and Russian are the standard languages for current missions.
How do objects return to Earth safely? They use the atmosphere to slow down and parachutes to ensure a soft landing in the ocean (splashdown).