Name ________________________________ Period_____
Date_____________________________
Rocket Design Project
Background Information:
Blue Origin and SpaceX are privately owned companies that are
working on designing rockets for leisure travel. (Check out Blue
Origin’s website here: https://www.blueorigin.com/ and SpaceX’s
website here:http://www.spacex.com/ ) Your mission for this project
is to pretend you are part of a design team at Blue Origin or
SpaceX. Your goal is to choose a rocket design and travel
destination from the four options and then work with a team of 3-4
people to design a landing unit the rocket. Your team will be
competing with other teams to win the contract to build the landing
unit.
Task:
Work with your team to design a rocket landing unit that can
successfully land on the specific environment of your assigned
planet or moon. Research the planet/moon environment and rocket
landing unit designs. Consider physics concepts when making your
design (gravity, inertia, forces, air resistance, mass etc.) and
discuss challenges and constraints your team might face. Make a
poster of your design and present your idea to the class. Poster
should include: labeled diagram of design and explanation of
design, any important/applicable background research, challenges
your group might face when building your design, explanation of why
your design is the best design, and color and creativity. Each
individual must type and turn in an engineering report
(requirements listed below)
Step 1 - Rocket and travel destination options: Choose one to
design a landing unit for with your team. Circle your choice
· The Martian Rocket - to land on the sandy surface of Mars
· The Titan Rocket - to land on the surface of Lake Methane on
one of Jupiter’s moons
· The Mercury Rocket - to land on the mountains of Mercury
· The Jupiter Rocket - to land in the red storm eye of
Jupiter
Step 2 - Research:
Work with your group to research rocket landing unit designs and
materials, the landing environment, planet/moon atmosphere, rocket
fuel, and any other topics that you think might help you with your
design. Record research here:
Step 3 - Discuss Constraints and Questions:
Record any challenges your group might face when designing and
building your landing unit. Record any constraints or limitations
that you need to consider when building and designing your landing
unit. Record any questions your group has.
Step 4 - Plan:
Sketch and record possible design ideas here:
Step 5 - Decide on final solution and begin to plan in
detail:
Record final solution here and write notes:
Step 6 - Type engineering report explaining your idea:
Parts to include in your report: Use full sentences!
· Engineering Problem
· Background research (2 paragraphs)
· Project requirements and constraints
· Landing Unit Solution- include labeled diagram and a written
explanation of design
· Explain challenges you might face when building your
design
· Explain the laws of physics used in your design (think
gravity, Newton’s Laws, etc.)
· Explain how this design would help improve the world around us
and increase scientific research in space
Step 7 - Make poster and present solution to class:
Poster should include: labeled diagram of design and explanation
of design, any important/applicable background research, challenges
your group might face when building your design, explanation of why
your design is the best design, and color and creativity.
