Resource

Spacecraft Materials Kit

DISCOVERING THE DIFFERENT PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS

Students can use the ESA Spacecraft Materials Kit to experimentally investigate a variety of different materials to determine the best material to build a spacecraft.

A set of five activities enables pupils to get acquainted with the properties of different materials, comparing and grouping everyday materials based on: electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, mass, magnetism, and resistance to impact. Pupils will consider which materials are best suited for different parts of a spacecraft.

Suitable for primary and junior secondary level.

Education Level:: Junior Cycle; Primary Level
Subject Area:: 1. Nature of STEM; 3. Materials; 4. Energy and Forces; 6. Engineering; Earth and Space; Junior Cycle; Nature of Science; Physical World; Primary Level
Format:

Spacecraft Materials Kit Teacher Guide

Teachers and educators can follow the teacher guide as the students explore material properties including, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, measuring mass, magnetism and the impact test.

ESA Spacecraft Materials Kit Teacher Guide

Spacecraft Materials Kit - Activity Sheet

A student focused activity sheet to take you through all the aspects of the ESA Spacecraft Materials Kit and record results from the investigations.

ESA Spacecraft Materials Kit - Activity Sheet

The Challenge

An ESA scientist explains which materials are useful for building spacecraft, and challenges students to investigate different materials themselves.

Classroom Demonstration Video

This video, part of ESA’s ‘Teach with Space’ resources, shows a demonstration of the spacecraft materials kit, how to set up and use it, and how pupils with the help of their teachers can discover the different properties of materials.

Moon Camp Challenge with Spacecraft Materials

The ESA Spacecraft Materials Kit can be used in many ways, including as a resource for your Moon Camp project! Explore the properties of materials and determine which would be best for building a habitat on the Moon, or other worlds in our Solar System.

See more about Moon Camp here

Find your nearest Education Centre to borrow a kit!

The ESA Spacecraft Material Kits are in Education Centres all around Ireland and available for schools and education groups to borrow. Find a kit in…

Cork
Donegal
Kilkenny
Laois
Mayo
Monaghan
Navan
Wexford

If there isn’t one available in your area, just ask your local centre to drop us an email at eseroireland@researchireland.ie, and we’ll be happy to help!

Find a list of Education Centres around Ireland here