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These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.

Spaceport UK

The UK is planning to develop several spaceports to launch rockets carrying satellites into space. This resource contains eight activities, which look at the development of a UK Spaceport and the launch of satellites into Earth orbit. They link to aspects of geography, science and engineering. Each activity includes a lesson plan, teachers’ notes, resource list, activity sheets and suggestions for additional activities. In addition, most activities have a PowerPoint presentation to use in the lesson. They are designed to be used as either individual activities or as as part of an extended project.

The activities are:

  • Where to build a UK Spaceport -  consider the key criteria for a rocket launching site
  • Satellites -  learn about satellites before designing and building a model satellite
  • Rocket fuel flow - investigate the flow of water out of a container to model the flow of fuel in a rocket motor
  • Water rocket lift-off -  investigate forces and gravity by launching a water powered model rocket
  • Tracking lift-off - investigate the trajectory of a ball in flight to model the flight of a rocket
  • Earth observation - look at Earth observation from satellites
  • Design a UK spaceport - make a plan for a new UK spaceport
  • Launch day - run an event to celebrate the UK launch of a satellite.

This resource has been provided by UK Space Agency.

 

Water rocket launch video

Trajectory video

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