NASA
Nasa: Space Shuttle Basics
Basics of space shuttle operations are explained, including details of launch vehicle and orbiter configuration. Information on each shuttle Enterprise, Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, Endeavour is included. Has video and...
NASA
Nasa Star Child: The Space Shuttle (Level 2)
This site has a description of the Space Shuttle and its uses. Included are vocabulary words linked to a glossary of terms, graphics and a printable version.
NASA
Nasa Star Child: The Space Shuttle (Level 1)
This site provides a short description of the space shuttle and what it is used for, with diagrams and one quiz question.
NASA
History of the Space Shuttle
Entry portal to NASA's site on the background and history of the Space Shuttle.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Spacecraft Design: Beat the Heat
To understand the challenges of satellite construction, student teams design and create model spacecraft to protect vital components from the harsh conditions found on Mercury and Venus. They use slices of butter in plastic eggs to...
NASA
Nasa: Engineering Design Challenges: Spacecraft Structures Educator Guide
This detailed educator's guide provides a lesson in designing the structure of a spacecraft. The design challenge contains pre-lab activities and instructions for how to test the models.
Texas A&M University
Texas a & M University: The Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster [Pdf]
Although this is an instructor guide, there is much information here regarding the Challenger disaster. Young scholars are instructed to consider the engineering ethics that came into question after the disaster. What could have been...
American Rhetoric
American Rhetoric: Ronald Reagan: Space Shuttle "Challenger" Tragedy Address
This is the text, audio, and video [2:37] of President Ronald Reagan's tribute speech after the Space Shuttle "Challenger" tragedy on January 28, 1986. The crew of the Challenger Seven who died were Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Judith...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Ronald Reagan on the Challenger Disaster" by President Ronald Reagan
President Ronald Reagan delivered this speech to the grieving nation on January 28, 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, leading to the death of its seven crew members. A specific purpose for reading...
Other
Metro West Daily News: Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion Still Vivid
Many people still remember exactly where they were when they either were actually watching it or heard about it - the Challenger explosion. After all these years, the memories still inspire hope for the future. Here are some notes on the...
PBS
Pbs Newshour Extra: Space Shuttle Challenger Tragedy
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the explosion of the Challenger, PBS provides an article that describes the repercussions of the disaster.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Slingshot to the Outer Planets
Students are introduced to the engineering challenges involved with interplanetary space travel. In particular, they learn about the gravity assist or "slingshot" maneuver often used by engineers to send spacecraft to the outer planets....
New York Times
New York Times: On This Day: On This Day: The Shuttle Explodes
A copy of the New York Times January 28, 1986 edition headlining the horrific explosion of Space Shuttle Challenger.
![Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Touchdown (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/39869-d33e02b173ea98cb8d263c68cd33b539.jpg?1661243844 "Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Touchdown (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout")
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Touchdown (Pdf) [Pdf]
Hands-on challenge to build a shock-absorbing system that will protect astronauts when they land on the moon. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, evaluate, and redesign it if necessary. Activity...
NASA
Nasa: Information on the Sts 51 L Challenger Accident
The mission profile of the Challenger accident, including the sequence of events, images and movie clips, crew profiles, and the report of the Presidential Commission.
![Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Launch It (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/36107-c0d2df3d606700761ca15213bf4cfa5c.jpg?1661243842 "Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Launch It (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout")
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Launch It (Pdf) [Pdf]
Hands-on challenge to design an air-powered rocket to take you to the moon that can hit a distant target. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, evaluate, and redesign it if necessary. Activity focuses...
US National Archives
Docsteach: Watching What?
Students will hypothesize what the president and cabinet members were watching on television by analyzing facial expressions, and body language, and the physical environment. Students will learn that President Ronald Reagan and his staff...
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Sally K. Ride, ph.d.
A biography of Sally Ride, the first American woman to travel to space. She flew on two Space Shuttle Challenger missions. After the Challenger disaster in 1986, she served on the Presidential Commission investigating the accident, and...
FOX News
Fox News: Columbia Accident Investigation Board Report (Volume Ii) Aug. 26, 2003 [Pdf]
Part two of the official CAIB report on the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy. This PDF document is lengthy, but there is a table of contents to help focus your research. Topics covered in this outstanding primary source document include an...
NASA
Nasa Environmental Control and Life Support Systems Water Filtration Challenge
This educator guide provides students with a challenge to design, build, and test a water filtration system, simulating what is used in a spacecraft. Includes background information, lesson plans, and extension activities.
NASA
Nasa: Astronaut Biography: Francis R. (Dick) Scobee
NASA's official biography of Dick Scobee, the commander of the Challenger spacecraft which exploded after launch.
NASA
Nasa: Astronaut Biography: Ronald E. Mc Nair, ph.d
Official NASA biography of Ronald McNair, the mission specialist on the Challenger spacecraft which exploded shortly after launch.
NASA
Nasa: Astronaut Biography: Ellison S. Onizuka
Official NASA biography of Ellison S. Onizuka, the mission specialist on the Challenger spacecraft which exploded shortly after launch.
NASA
Nasa: Astronaut Biography: Judith A. Resnik, ph.d.
The official NASA biography for Judith A. Resnik who was the mission specialist on board the Challenger spacecraft when it exploded in 1986.