Space Orientation
Curious minds, get ready. This minds-on course is your launchpad into the cosmos. Designed for students who geek out over science and tech, we’ll explore everything from black holes to rocket math, to Mars missions, and more.
You’ll dive into interactive lessons, build real-world skills, and uncover the secrets of space, from our backyard solar system to galaxies far, far away.
By the end of the course, you’ll have a solid grasp of key astronomical concepts, the history of space exploration, and the math behind how we reach the stars.
And to top it off, you’ll join a live lesson with a real space experts, bringing your learning full circle from theory to firsthand experience.
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Lesson 4: Orbit
Every satellite, space station, and planet follows a path; understanding those paths is key to space exploration. In this lesson, you’ll learn what orbits are, how they work, and why they matter. We’ll cover the physics that keep objects in motion around Earth and other celestial bodies, and examine different types of orbits, including low Earth, geostationary, polar, and beyond.
Every satellite, space station, and planet follows a path; understanding those paths is key to space exploration. In this lesson, you’ll learn what orbits are, how they work, and why they matter. We’ll cover the physics that keep objects in motion around Earth and other celestial bodies, and examine different types of orbits, including low Earth, geostationary, polar, and beyond.
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Lesson 5: Space System Design/ Introduction of Student Design Project
This is where ideas turn into missions. In this lesson, you’ll learn how space systems are designed from defining a mission objective to selecting the right spacecraft components, sensors, and propulsion. We’ll walk through the fundamentals of systems engineering and how each part must work together to survive and perform in space.
This is where ideas turn into missions. In this lesson, you’ll learn how space systems are designed from defining a mission objective to selecting the right spacecraft components, sensors, and propulsion. We’ll walk through the fundamentals of systems engineering and how each part must work together to survive and perform in space.
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Lesson 6: Propulsion
Nothing moves in space without propulsion. In this lesson, you’ll explore how rockets and spacecraft generate thrust, from chemical engines and solid boosters to modern ion and electric propulsion systems. We’ll break down Newton’s laws of motion, the physics of rocket thrust, and the tradeoffs between power, efficiency, and speed.
Nothing moves in space without propulsion. In this lesson, you’ll explore how rockets and spacecraft generate thrust, from chemical engines and solid boosters to modern ion and electric propulsion systems. We’ll break down Newton’s laws of motion, the physics of rocket thrust, and the tradeoffs between power, efficiency, and speed.
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Lesson 7: Power
Every spacecraft needs energy to survive and function, and managing that power is critical. In this lesson, you’ll learn how satellites, probes, and space stations generate, store, and distribute electricity in the vacuum of space. We’ll cover solar panels, batteries, fuel cells, and even nuclear power systems used for deep-space missions.
Every spacecraft needs energy to survive and function, and managing that power is critical. In this lesson, you’ll learn how satellites, probes, and space stations generate, store, and distribute electricity in the vacuum of space. We’ll cover solar panels, batteries, fuel cells, and even nuclear power systems used for deep-space missions.
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Lesson 8: Sensing
To understand space, you have to sense it. In this lesson, you’ll explore how spacecraft collect data using sensors and instruments. From cameras and spectrometers to radar and LIDAR, you’ll see how we capture everything from temperature and radiation to surface details on distant planets.
To understand space, you have to sense it. In this lesson, you’ll explore how spacecraft collect data using sensors and instruments. From cameras and spectrometers to radar and LIDAR, you’ll see how we capture everything from temperature and radiation to surface details on distant planets.
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Lesson 9: Attitude Control & Environmental Control
Keeping a spacecraft on course and its crew alive takes precision and control. In this lesson, you’ll learn how spacecraft maintain orientation in space using reaction wheels, gyroscopes, and thrusters, systems that keep antennas pointed, solar panels aligned, and instruments stable.
Keeping a spacecraft on course and its crew alive takes precision and control. In this lesson, you’ll learn how spacecraft maintain orientation in space using reaction wheels, gyroscopes, and thrusters, systems that keep antennas pointed, solar panels aligned, and instruments stable.
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Lesson 10: Communications & Structures
No mission succeeds without communication and a strong design to hold it all together. In this lesson, you’ll learn how spacecraft send and receive data across millions of miles using antennas, radio waves, and relay networks. We’ll cover how signals are encoded, transmitted, and tracked from deep space back to Earth.
No mission succeeds without communication and a strong design to hold it all together. In this lesson, you’ll learn how spacecraft send and receive data across millions of miles using antennas, radio waves, and relay networks. We’ll cover how signals are encoded, transmitted, and tracked from deep space back to Earth.
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Lesson 11: Getting to Orbit & Re-entry
Reaching space is only half the battle. Staying there and coming back safely are just as critical. In this lesson, you’ll learn what it takes to get a spacecraft into orbit, from launch sequence and staging to orbital insertion and stabilization. We’ll explore the forces at play during ascent, including gravity, drag, and thrust, and how engineers balance them to achieve a stable orbit.
Reaching space is only half the battle. Staying there and coming back safely are just as critical. In this lesson, you’ll learn what it takes to get a spacecraft into orbit, from launch sequence and staging to orbital insertion and stabilization. We’ll explore the forces at play during ascent, including gravity, drag, and thrust, and how engineers balance them to achieve a stable orbit.
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Lesson 12: Work Session on Student Design
This lesson is your dedicated work session to develop and refine your space mission design project. You’ll pull together everything you’ve learned from defining your mission objective to selecting subsystems and finalizing your orbit, ground segment, and launch plan.
This lesson is your dedicated work session to develop and refine your space mission design project. You’ll pull together everything you’ve learned from defining your mission objective to selecting subsystems and finalizing your orbit, ground segment, and launch plan.
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Lesson 13 &14: Student Design Project Presentations
In these lessons, you’ll watch a full example of a completed student design project.
You’ll see how the student ties together all elements of their project into a clear, professional presentation that meets the full rubric.
By the end, you’ll have a strong reference for how to organize and deliver your own final project with clarity, depth, and confidence.
In these lessons, you’ll watch a full example of a completed student design project.
You’ll see how the student ties together all elements of their project into a clear, professional presentation that meets the full rubric.
By the end, you’ll have a strong reference for how to organize and deliver your own final project with clarity, depth, and confidence.
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Lesson 15: Future Space Projects/ Course Wrap-Up
In this final lesson, we’ll look ahead to the future of space exploration and reflect on how far you’ve come. You’ll explore current and upcoming missions and see how today’s innovations are shaping tomorrow’s opportunities
In this final lesson, we’ll look ahead to the future of space exploration and reflect on how far you’ve come. You’ll explore current and upcoming missions and see how today’s innovations are shaping tomorrow’s opportunities
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