Space Brain Hack
Our youth are the scientists, explorers and problem solvers of tomorrow, and we want them to help shape Canada's space program!
Get your students thinking about solutions, innovations and inventions to solve real challenges faced in the space sector. The goal is to show them the role they could play in exciting space missions by studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and choosing STEM career paths.
Use the educator guides and presentations to give them context and introduce concepts. You can then challenge them to come up with their own solutions related to mental health and isolation, food production and satellite sustainability.
Challenge 1
The theme
Canada and the global space community are preparing for the Artemis and Lunar Gateway missions that will bring humans back to the Moon and later on to Mars. With these ambitious goals come changes to space missions that will require new approaches to maintaining astronaut mental health and wellness.
The challenge
How can astronauts maintain their mental health and well-being on long-duration journeys, potentially deeper into space? Keeping in mind constraints presented by the teacher, imagine a solution for one or more astronauts that will:
Resources
Challenge 2
The theme
Canada and the global space community are preparing for the Artemis and Lunar Gateway missions that will take humans back to the Moon and later on to Mars. With these ambitious goals come changes to space missions that will require new approaches for producing fresh, nutritious food for the astronauts.
The challenge
You are a future lunar astronaut on a one-year mission on the Moon. Design a food production system that creates fresh food for you and your fellow crewmates, full of flavour and nutrients, with the least possible waste. Keep in mind the constraints presented to you and generate enough fresh food to supplement the packaged food for a crew of four adults.
Resources
Challenge 3
The theme
For over 60 years, Canadian experts have been using satellites to monitor our environment from space. Canada's vast and changing landscape, including its cities, forests, coasts, and climate, require systematic monitoring and analysis, and needs for high-quality satellite data are constantly increasing. Weather forecasting, transportation planning, emissions reduction, climate change adaptation, emergency management response and recovery, public health monitoring, freshwater management, ocean protection, and food production are all examples of applications that are obtained more effectively from satellite data. Satellite missions also have environmental impacts – reducing those impacts is critical.
The challenge
You and your teammates are part of an international effort to reduce the ecological footprint of satellite missions. Ensure these essential tools for climate monitoring are responsibly and sustainably designed, made and operated by finding ways to “green” one phase of a mission's life cycle.