This CNNfyi.com lesson plan is supplemented with material from

Tourists in space

April 19, 2001
Web posted at: 7:24 PM EDT (2324 GMT)

Curriculum connections: Science/technology - human travel in space

Objectives

Students will be able to:

• Define "space tourist".
• Debate whether tourists should be allowed to go to the International Space Station.
• Develop alternative methods for space programs to raise money.
• Design an interview with the first civilian to visit the ISS.
• Evaluate the space programs of the United States and Russia and determine the reasons for allowing or not allowing tourists in space.

Standards

Benchmarks On-Line
Technology and science, grades nine-12
Technological problems often create a demand for new scientific knowledge, and new technologies make it possible for scientists to extend their research in new ways or to undertake entirely new lines of research. The very availability of new technology itself often sparks scientific advances.

Materials

CNNfyi.com article, "Make room for the space tourists"

Internet access

Suggested time

One class period

Procedure

1. Have students read the CNNfyi.com article,"Make room for the space tourists" and ask the following:

• Who is Dennis Tito? Why is he being given access to go to the International Space Station? How has Tito trained for the mission? When is he scheduled to go to the International Space Station? How long is he scheduled to stay? How will he return?
• What is a "space tourist"? Do you think people should be able to purchase "tickets" to go into space? Why do you think there was a disagreement between the United States and Russia about space tourism?
  

2. Divide the class into two groups. Students should analyze financial, safety and training aspects of space tourism. Assign one group to be in favor and the other group to be against space tourism. Have a class debate about whether or not space tourism should be allowed. Direct students to include specific examples supporting their positions.

3. Generate a class discussion about how space tourism could affect the space program.

What are benefits of allowing tourists in space? What are potential drawbacks? Do you think tourists should be allowed in space? Would you go if you could? Why or why not?

Assessment

Have each student create a resume and a cover letter to NASA applying for a seat to the International Space Station. Invite students to share their resumes with the class. What were some commonalties among all of the resumes? Why do you think a majority of the students included the same things? What do students think resumes should include?

Accommodations

Logical/mathematical

1. Students can create a chart of the benefits and consequences of tourism in space.

2. Students can consider alternative ways for the space programs to raise money to continue their projects. Direct them to look at Highwired.com's Pizza Hut on the Moon for one possibility.

Challenge

1. Have students assume that Dennis Tito does, in fact, become the first civilian to visit the ISS. It is their job to write an interview with him for a news magazine. Have them follow Highwired.com's How to prepare an interview and How to write up an interview, applying this situation to the written activities. (They will not be able to do the actual interview requested in the second project listed.)

2. Students can analyze both the United States' and Russia's space programs and determine why one favors tourists in space now while the other is against it. What experiences, if any, have either of the programs had with admitting regular citizens into space, and what were the results?

First crew heads home
March 19, 2001
Welcome home, Mir
March 22, 2001
Discussion/activity: Destiny's mission in space
February 6, 2001
Lesson plan: Blastoff brings new frontiers
October 31, 2000
Mission to Mars
October 2, 2000
U.S., Russia embroiled in space tourist flap
March 20, 2001

HSF - International Space Station
NASA Homepage
Russian Space Industry
Russian Space Agency

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