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.
A&E Television
History.com: Challenger Explosion: How Groupthink and Other Causes Led to the Tragedy
Seven lives were lost as communications failed in the face of public pressure to proceed with the launch despite dangerously cold conditions. January 28, 1986, The sun had been up for less than an hour and air temperatures were a few...
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 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: 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.
NASA
Nasa E Clips: Nasa's Launchpad: The Great Boomerang Challenge [Pdf]
Learners use the principles of technological and engineering design to research and explain how airfoil shape affects flight characteristics and how it applies to boomerang flight.. They will work in teams to design, build, test, 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: Astronaut Biography: Gregory B. Jarvis
Official NASA biography of Gregory B. Jarvis, the payload specialist for the Challenger. He was on board when the Challenger exploded in 1986.
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: Michael J. Smith
The official NASA biography of Michael J. Smith, the pilot on the Challenger which exploded shortly 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.
NASA
Nasa: Astronomy Picture of the Day: Lunar Dust and Duct Tape
Dust, a common and usually minor problem on Earth, presented a major challenge for the Apollo astronauts on the Moon. Here's an interesting solution created by the Apollo 17 crew.
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
Nasa: Engineering Design Challenges: Thermal Protection Systems Educator Guide
This classroom activity teaches students to work in groups to design and build a thermal protection system simulating one on a space vehicle. Provides background information, lesson plans, and assessment questions.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Eyes on the Stars
On January 28, 1986, NASA Challenger mission STS-51-L ended in tragedy when the shuttle exploded 73 seconds after takeoff. On board was physicist Ronald E. McNair, who was the second African American to enter space. But first, he was a...
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: 3 M Young Scientist Challenge
Have you ever imagined going on an actual archaeological dig, climbing aboard a NASA spacecraft, or collecting insects in remote rain forests? This NASA site is your chance to join Discovery School winners on their exciting science...
South Carolina Educational Television
Etv: Nasa Online: Invention Process: Brain Teasers
Interactive brain games that challenge thinking and creativity skills.
NASA
Nasa: Tres Pequenos Satelites Que Viajan a Cuestas
A challenging and creative hangman activity where students read a short article about satellites and then proceed to play "Nanosat Flingman." A great learning activity for for reading comprehension, vocabulary, and pronunciation....
NASA
History of the Space Shuttle
Entry portal to NASA's site on the background and history of the Space Shuttle.
NASA
Nasa Star Child: Dr. Sally Ride
Here you can learn all about Sally Ride, the first American woman to orbit Earth. Also, learn a fun trivia fact about Sally Ride!
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Johnson's Task, Unify Space Program
Russia was ahead in the "space race" in 1961. In this article, the Library of Congress discusses how President Kennedy assigned Lyndon Johnson the task of uniting the different parts of the U.S. space program into NASA.
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...