Maths in Space

News from 1999…

Estimate the following distances: The length of your table...

Estimate the following distances: The height of a door...

Estimate the following distances: York to Edinburgh… 200 miles

Estimate the following distances: The circumference of the Earth… 25, 000 miles

Estimate each of the following distances: Earth to the International Space Station… 250 miles

14 th December 2015: Tim Peake launches into space

15 th January2015: Tim Peake complete first space walk.

Communication is key.

Communication challenge: Make the shape

Would YOU survive?

NASA Exercise: Survival on the Moon You are a member of a space crew originally scheduled to rendezvous with a mother ship on the lighted surface of the moon. However, due to mechanical difficulties, your ship was forced to land at a spot some 200 miles from the rendezvous point. During re-entry and landing, much of the equipment aboard was damaged and, since survival depends on reaching the mother ship, the most critical items available must be chosen for the 200-mile trip. There are 15 items left intact and undamaged after landing. Your task is to rank order them in terms of their importance for your crew in allowing them to reach the rendezvous point. Place the number 1 by the most important item, the number 2 by the second most important, and so on through number 15 for the least important.

NASA Exercise: Survival on the Moon 1.Two 100lb. Tanks of oxygenMost pressing survival need 2.20 litres of waterNeeded to replace the tremendous liquid loss 3.Stellar mapPrimary means of navigation 4.Food concentrateEfficient means of supplying energy requirements 5.Solar-powered FM receiver For communication with the mother-ship transmitter

NASA Exercise: Survival on the Moon 6. 50ft nylon ropeUseful for scaling cliffs and tying injured together 7. First aid kitNeedles connected will fit special aperture in NASA space suit 8. Parachute silkProtection from the sun’s rays 9. Self-inflating life raftCO 2 bottle in raft may be used for propulsion 10. Signal flaresUse as distress signal when mother-ship sighted

NASA Exercise: Survival on the Moon 11.Two.45 calibre pistolsPossible means of self propulsion 12. One case of dehydrated milkBulkier duplication of food concentrate 13. Portable heating unitNot needed- unless on the dark side 14. Magnetic compassMagnetic filed on the moon isn’t polarised 15. Box of matchesVirtually worthless- there’s no oxygen on the moon

Would YOU survive?

Things to think about… Hair: If Tim didn’t cut his hair during the mission, how long would it be on his return? TV Tim won’t have a TV in space. How many episodes of Match of the Day will be on his series record when he arrives home? How many goals do you think this will be? How many episodes of Coronation street will he miss? What would you miss if you were Tim?

Maths in Space Thank you