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To Build A Satellite:
Model Satellite Assembly Activity
Chandra X-ray Telescope Project
 Task: Students and teachers will access, discuss, and learn
background information on the Chandra web site, about the design of the Chandra
telescope and satellite. They will learn how the manufacture process took place
at various locations around the United States. Each piece was integrated before
being loaded into the cargo bay of the NASA Space Shuttle Columbia. Incorporated
into the lesson on the actual Chandra assembly will be a review lesson on
mathematical scale and ratios using scale diagrams and/or blueprints and their
importance to the manufacturing process of highly specialized technical
equipment. Finally, the teacher will review with the students the method of
assessment for this activity which includes the rubric attached to this document.
To accomplish this task, a classroom or other large area will be divided into
three assembly station areas and one final integration station where all the
separate parts will be put together to create a model of the Chandra satellite.
[see diagram 1] At each station there will need to be at least one copy of a
scaled set of "blueprints" complete with specifications and enough raw material
for 2 completely finished satellite components. A time limit for the project
should be set ahead of time to more closely resemble "real world" applications.
The teacher should divide the group as evenly as possible into 3 smaller groups,
one group for each assembly station. After a set time limit, all of the students
will take their separate components to station 4 (final assembly) and fit them
together. An assembly team leader could be chosen by each group to do the final
assembly if there are too many students for the amount of space available to
work.
Notes…
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Blueprints, scale drawings and specification sheets are available as
downloadable documents from the Chandra web site in PDF and HTML format.
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"Raw material" could be cardboard, aluminum foil, wrapping paper, and
simple fasteners.
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