Space Station Alpha Background Photo

The astronauts aboard the International Space Station are trying to protect themselves from the worst solar flare ever recorded!

Duration: 90 Minutes

Student Site: Grades 5-8Teacher Site: Grades 5-8Student Site: Grades 9-12 Not Duplicated

Educational Categories:

  • Physical Science
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics

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e-Missions.net: Space Station Alpha

The astronauts aboard the International Space Station are trying to protect themselves from the worst solar flare ever recorded!

Meet the Teams

The Radiation Team continually calculates the radiation levels from two TEPC monitors in various locations on the space station.

The Life Support Team calculates the carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the cabin and makes recommendations to keep those levels normal.

The Crisis Management Team monitors all systems on board to ensure the astronauts are safe. Crisis Management also tracks the power load and the battery reserves available to ensure the safety of the crew. 

The Storm Team (for grades 9-12) calculates x-ray and proton readings to predict when the storm will cause problems for the ISS. Recommendations are made to shield the astronauts from the harmful radiation, to keep the life support systems in balance, and to ensure the International Space Station has enough power to get through an eclipse as it weathers this solar storm.

The Communication Team keeps Mission Control informed about the status of the station and relays recommendations from all teams.


Standards

What is light & electromagnetic spectrum, human physiology of respiration, atmospheric gases, air pressure, fission/ fusion, magnetism/ electromagnetism, power & electricity, risk management, graphing, graph interpretation, math in everyday life.

Mission Teams

Storm Team Background Photo

Storm Team

The Storm Team (for grades 9-12) calculates x-ray and proton readings to predict when the storm will cause problems for the ISS. Recommendations are made to shield the astronauts from the harmful radiation, to keep the life support systems in balance, and to ensure the International Space Station has enough power to get through an eclipse as it weathers this solar storm.

Crisis Management Team Background Photo

Crisis Management Team

The Crisis Management Team monitors all systems on board to ensure the astronauts are safe. Crisis Management also tracks the power load and the battery reserves available to ensure the safety of the crew.

Radiation Team Background Photo

Radiation Team

The Radiation Team continually calculates the radiation levels from two TEPC monitors in various locations on the space station.

Life Support Team Background Photo

Life Support Team

The Life Support Team calculates the carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the cabin and makes recommendations to keep those levels normal.

Communication Team Background Photo

Communication Team

The Communication Team keeps Mission Control informed about the status of the station and relays recommendations from all teams.

Technical Requirements

  1. Internet-Connected Computers
    • Five computers for High School missions
    • Four computers for Middle School missions
    • Each team has one computer — The computer will be shared among the different team specialists.
  2. The latest version of Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari installed on the above computers.
  3. Webcams for each of the above computers, though not all teams will need a webcam.
  4. Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet installed with the permission to use the computer camera and microphone in the preferred browsers mentioned above.
  5. Printer (network, optional)

Mission Sponsors

Logo for Mission Sponsor https://www.nasa.gov