child playing on a large interactive touch screen
Date and time

Weekdays

Location

Lot Fourteen, McEwin Building, North Terrace, Adelaide 5000

Admission

Expression of interest required

Duration

90 minutes

This event is accessible

Accessible

Capacity

30 students

Age range

11+

Through this workshop, students will: 

  • Strengthen their design thinking skills through the application of an unfamiliar design process model. 
     
  • Develop familiarity with satellite design and function, and with Earth observation technologies.  
     
  • Understand the usefulness of Earth observation from space. 
     
  • Identify the three main orbital zones around the Earth and understand that the different zones are more suited to different purposes. 
     
  • Recognize the scope of current space utilization in Earth’s orbit and identify some of the challenges associated with this.  
     
  • This experience is designed as a first-pass mission planning workshop, using information about real technologies and infrastructure. This creates the potential for broad connections to Australian curriculum and lead-in to various tasks and units.

Notes:

  • Curriculum Links cover Science, Technologies, Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Subjects under Social Sciences include: Geography, Civic and Citizenship, and Economics and Business, and General Capabilities.
  • Detail on specific curriculum links from Years 5 -12 are found in our pre-mission materials.

The workshop follows a three-part structure: 

  1. Introduction and presentation, where students are given their mission brief and introduced to the design process model used in this workshop. 
     
  2. Learner- led design exploration, where students plan their mission in three timed blocks, focusing on design and satellite assembly, IR imaging capability testing, then detailed launch and operation planning.  
     
  3. Whole-class close-out, review and reflection.

Learning objectives

  • Have commenced a mission planning process and developed sufficient understanding of the requirements of this process to continue building their plan, if desired.
  • Have practiced techniques for generating ideas, possibilities and actions, and understand that similar techniques can be used in other creative thinking contexts.
  • Be able to define earth observation and provide an example of how it might be used.
  • Be able to explain what a satellite is and identify some key systems of an earth observation satellite.

Our department recognises the First Peoples of this Nation and their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to the lands, waters, seas, skies, and communities.

We Acknowledge First Nations Peoples as the Traditional Custodians and Lore Keepers of the oldest living culture and pay respects to their Elders past and present. We extend that respect to all First Nations Peoples.