Space Science
Reach for the stars and learn some chemistry along the way!
Launch your study of space science with ideas from these links. Explore what it would take to survive on Mars, watch a game of liquid ping pong in space, see what other students have done with rockets, make your own spectrometer, and more.
- The Martian Resources
Turn a ChemClub into a book club using Andy Weir’s The Martian. Use the reading guide, choose a Mars music playlist, and more. - Experimenting with UV-Sensitive Beads
UV-sensitive beads don’t just make neat bracelets; they also help us learn about UV radiation in space. - Mission: Starlight—A Global Experiment on UV Protection
Protect astronauts from UV light in this UV-bead challenge. - Outer Space Is Not Empty Space
This is one-stop shopping for astrochemistry resources. It all starts with the question “What is the universe made of?” - Genesis: Search for Origins
Even if you’re studying space, you don’t have to learn it in a vacuum! Link it up with a real world space mission with these modules. - Spectroscopy
Going to Mars? Don’t forget to pack your spectrometer! Find out why, then build your own.
- Imagine the Universe!
NASA isn’t just about sending stuff out into space—they want to help you learn about space too. Get started with this collection of lesson plans. - Project Spectra!
You won’t have to put on a spacesuit to explore the solar system—this series of activities takes you there as you learn about how light helps us learn. - The Dark Side of the Universe
Come… to the dark side. Of the universe, that is. This Scientific American Frontiers episode is packed with star stuff. - Stanford Solar Center
Learning centers around the sun at the Solar Center, right? A long list of lessons for all ages! - How to Find a Meteorite in 5 Steps
Up there in the sky! It’s a bird… It’s a plane… It’s a… meteorite? Learn how to track down these elusive samples from the solar system.
- A Dusty Dilemma
NASA even studies the dust that hits its spacecraft. What makes collecting this data tricky? - October Sky
Encourage your students to reach for the stars! Use the book Rocket Boys to motivate students to launch their study of rocket science. - The Martian: Popular Fiction Plus Chemistry
Gripping fiction. Gripping science. See how Andy Weir’s The Martian can find a place in the chemistry classroom. - Mars Solar Bag
This solar bag science demo went 120,000 feet up and may someday make it to Mars.
- Surviving on Mars
Have you got what it takes to survive on the Red Planet? NASA is trying to make it possible. - Growing Green on the Red Planet
If humans become temporary Martians, they’ll need food to put on the menu. Will we be able to go green? - Astrochemistry Careers
This career is out of this world! Learn more about what astrochemists do. - What Is the Moon Made of?
They give you a hint: not cheese. Get to the core of this question with an infographic created to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the moon landing. - Fungi in Outer Space
Seriously stressed out fungi could be a source of new medicines. A few are heading to space. - 12 Cool Experiments Done on the ISS
What if your lab space was literally in space? Read about a dozen unusual experiments done on the International Space Station.
- What Happens to the Human Body in Space?
Astronaut Scott Kelly recently spent nearly a year in space. What happened to him while he was there? - Extreme Cosmic Ice
Talk about ultracool chemistry. These researchers are studying ice and its possible connection to life in the universe. - Mixing Liquids in Space
How would oil and vinegar salad dressing appear in zero gravity? Learn about the interaction of immiscible liquids in space. - U.K.'s Twinkle Mission Set To Explore Exoplanets
This mission is out of this world. Literally. See how they plan to learn more about the chemistry of far-away planets outside of our solar system. - Can We Power a Space Mission to an Exoplanet?
Imagine traveling as far as it is from the earth to the sun. Now multiply that by 750,000 times. Possible? Or just a dream? - Astronaut Tim Peake on Twitter
This British astronaut tweeted from the International Space Station through June 2016. What was he up to in space?
- NASA Selects Two Missions
Lucy and Psyche are at the top of NASA’s list. Meet up with these two future missions. - NASA's Chemical Laptop Could Spot Life on Mars
Forget typing a paper or surfing the internet—this “laptop” can’t help you there. But it can help us learn more about the chemistry of other planets. - Mae Jemison – Secret Life of Scientists and Engineers
The site describes itself as a place “where the lab coats come off.” Learn more about the first African-American woman in space. - Asteroid Yields Its Secrets
Take off. Travel to asteroid. Sample it. Return to Earth. What did researchers find out? - Hidden Figures Curriculum
Bring STEM alive in the classroom by bringing together the movie Hidden Figures with these lesson plans that link science, social studies, language arts, and math.
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