NASA Connect TV Broadcast

PSA: The Astronaut's Helper
In this half-hour program, students 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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NASA Connect links for this activity
QuickTime online version of this broadcast
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Visit NASA Central Operation of Resources for Educators (CORE) to order a videotape copy of this broadcast:
NASA CORE home page
PSA: The Astronaut's Helper video tape catalog information