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Mission: Solar System
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Hands-on
Challenges -
Soft Landing
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Robo Arm
Down to the Core
Design and build a device that can take a core sample from a potato "asteroid."
Analyzing samples from a planet, moon, or asteroid helps scientists learn about its chemistry, geologic history, and potential to support past or present life. In fact, nearly every NASA surface mission collects samples. In this video, kids design and build coring devices that can poke into a potato "asteroid" and extract a core sample. The video shows kids using the engineering design process, applying a variety of science concepts (e.g., Newton's Second Law and potential and kinetic energy), and learning about NASA's exploration of the solar system.
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Related Activity

Down to the Core
Want to do this challenge with kids? Download the leader notes and handout.
Download (PDF)
Related NASA Video

Drilling a Rock on Mars
See NASA's Curiosity rover drill into a rock on Mars and collect a sample.
Download video (16.1 MB)
Watch now on NASA
(Scroll to full version: "Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover Animation - June 24, 2011.")
Related Engineer Video

Allison Bolinger
NASA spacewalk flight controller and trainer Allison Bolinger teaches astronauts how to work outside their spacecraft. Watch now
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Download Exploring the Solar System poster (PDF).
Print it at a copy shop.