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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. |
