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Voyager Spacecraft in Interstellar Space (41 years)

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Voyager Spacecraft in Interstellar Space (41 years)

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NASA’s Voyager 2 Enters Interstellar Space

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The twin Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft are exploring where nothing from Earth has flown before. Continuing on their over-40-year journey since their 1977 launches, they each are much farther away from Earth and the sun than Pluto.

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OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft Discovers Water On Asteroid Bennu

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The Payload Fairing (PLF) is designed to provide a controlled environment for the spacecraft. The Atlas V large payload fairing (LPF) has a 4-m diameter cylindrical section topped by a conical section. The major sections of the payload fairings are the boattail, the cylindrical section, and the nose that is topped by a spherical cone.

All PLFs are configured for off-pad payload encapsulation to enhance payload safety and security, and to minimize on-pad time.

The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft will travel to the near-Earth asteroid Bennu.

Size: 2 m (6.6 ft.) cube

Solar arrays: 8.50 sq. m (91 sq. ft.)

Power: Solar arrays and Li-ion batteries

The Sample Return Capsule (SRC) will be used to return the sample back to Earth. The capsule with encased samples will be retrieved from the Utah Test and Training Range outside of Salt Lake City.

The Launch Vehicle (LV) adapter, also known as a C-adapter, is used to attach the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to the Atlas V rocket. It is a machined aluminum structure in a monocoque cylinder form. The forward and aft rings have another diameter of 1,596 mm (62.84 in.) and a bolt circle diameter of 1,575 mm (62.010 in.). The nominal height of the LV adapter is 558.8 mm (22.00 in.) but this height may be varied from 330.2 mm (13.00 in.) to 736.6 mm (29.00 in.) to meet requirements meant specifically for OSIRIS-REx.

The Atlas V Centaur upper stage relies on the RL10 propulsion system for power. Logging an impressive record of nearly 400 successful flights and nearly 700 firings in space, RL10 engines, manufactured by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, harness the power of high-energy liquid hydrogen and boast a precision control system and restart capability to accurately place critical payloads into orbit.

The Atlas V Centaur upper stage is powered by the RL10A and can be configured with either one or two engines.

Nominal Thrust: 23,300 lbs

Specific Impulse: 450.5 seconds

Fuel/Oxidizer: Liquid Hydrogen/Liquid Oxygen

Length: 91.5 in

Diameter: 46 in

Weight: 367 lbs

Size: 3.05-m (120-in) Diameter x 0.65-m (25.6-in) Length

Mass: 181.7 kg (400.6 lbs)

Structure: Aluminum Monocoque

Seperation: Frangible Joint Assembly (FJA) Separation System

Size: 3.05-m (120-in) Diameter x 2.52-m (99.2-in) Length (Cylinder Section), 3.81-m (150-in) Diameter x 1.61-m (63.4-in) Length (Conic Section)

Mass: 947 kg (2,087.8 lbs)

Structure: Composite (Graphite Epoxy) with Aluminum Ring Frames Fwd & Aft

Delivering more than 860,000 lbs of thrust at liftoff and an impressive range of continuous throttling capability, the RD-180 main engine is a powerful combination of innovation and performance. The liquid oxygen/liquid kerosene, two-thrust-chamber RD-180 engine is a complete propulsion unit equipped with hydraulics for control valve actuation and thrust vector gimbaling, pneumatics for valve actuation and system purging, and a thrust frame to distribute loads.

Nominal Thrust (sea level): 860,300 lbs

Specific Impulse (sea level): 311 seconds

Length: 140 in Weight: 12,081 lbs

Fuel/Oxidizer: Liquid Oxygen/Liquid Kerosene

When missions demand additional thrust at liftoff, Atlas integrates up to three solid rocket boosters (SRB) on the Atlas V 400 series launch vehicle. The Atlas SRB, manufactured by Aerojet, uses the world's largest monolithic filament-wound carbon composite case.

Peak Vacuum Thrust: 380,000 lbf

Specific Impulse: 279.3 seconds

Length: 787 in

Maximum Diameter: 62.2 in

Weight: 102,950 lbs

Nominal Burn Time: 88.3 seconds

Delivering more than 860,000 lbs of thrust at liftoff and an impressive range of continuous throttling capability, the RD-180 main engine is a powerful combination of innovation and performance. The two-thrust-chamber engine is a complete propulsion unit equipped with hydraulics for control valve actuation and thrust vector gimbaling, pneumatics for valve actuation and system purging, and a thrust frame to distribute loads.

Nominal Thrust (sea level): 860,300 lbs

Specific Impulse (sea level): 311 seconds

Length: 140 in

Weight: 12,081 lbs

Fuel/Oxidizer: Liquid Oxygen/Liquid Kerosene

The "411" in the rocket's name is actually a code that provides three important characteristics of the Atlas V:

The first digit provides the width of the payload fairing in meters.

The second digit tells the number of solid rocket boosters attached to the rocket.

The third digit gives the number of Centaur upper stage engines.

So according to the code, OSR's Atlas V has a 4-meter (16-foot) wide payload fairing, 1 solid rocket booster, and 1 Centaur upper stage. OSR has to be protected so that it can reach space in one piece.

OSIRIS-REx launched on September 8, 2016 at 7:05 PM EDT from Cape Canaveral, Florida on an Atlas V rocket in the 411 configuration.

The 411 configuration added a single strap-on solid booster rocket to the first stage. The Atlas V rocket used an RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage, and an RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage.

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Entering Solar Orbit

Bennu Earth OSIRIS-REx The sun

The Atlas V rocket launched OSIRIS-REx with a hyperbolic escape velocity of 5.4 km/s (over 12,000 mph). In space, OSIRIS-REx will perform a series of Deep Space Maneuvers, changing velocity by another 0.52 km/s (1,163 mph).

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Gravity Assist

Earth OSIRIS-REx The Moon

After a year orbiting the sun, OSIRIS-REx made a flyby of Earth on September 22, 2017. Earth's gravitational field pulled the spacecraft towards the planet where it "borrowed" a small amount of Earth's orbital energy. OSIRIS-REx used this additional energy to change its orbital inclination and sling itself back into space for a rendezvous with Bennu.

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Approaching Bennu

Approach begins in August 2018, when Bennu is just a point of light more than 2 million km away from the spacecraft. As OSIRIS-REx approaches the asteroid, it will use an array of small rocket thrusters to match the velocity of Bennu in its orbit around the Sun.

Bennu travels around the sun at an average speed of 63,000 mph. To reach Bennu, OSIRIS-REx will perform a series of braking maneuvers, slowing down by 0.53 km/s (1,186 mph), resulting in a relative approach velocity of 20 cm/s (~0.45 mph). The spacecraft will then arrive at Bennu on December 3, 2018.

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Surveying Bennu

During the asteroid encounter, OSIRIS-REx will be formation flying with Bennu while it maps the asteroid's surface. The survey begins in December 2018 and has four major phases:

During Preliminary Survey, OSIRIS-REx searches for asteroid plumes and natural satellites, and also measures the Yarkovsky acceleration of Bennu.

In Orbital A the Flight Dynamics Team transitions from star-based navigation to landmark-based navigation that uses images of of Bennu's surface.

In Detailed Survey several instruments work together to map Bennu and determine its global spectral, thermal, and geological properties.

During Orbital B, OSIRIS-REx continues to map Bennu at higher resolutions, with a focus on candidate sample sites. At the end of Orbital B, a sample site will be selected.

Explore instruments

The Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) is an elegantly simple sampler head with an articulated arm. It is designed to collect a sample from the surface of Bennu.

Once the sampler head makes contact with the surface of Bennu, a burst of pure nitrogen gas will push surface regolith into the sampler's chamber. Surface contact pads on the exterior of TAGSAM will also collect fine-grained material as the sample collector touches down on the asteroid.

This method was chosen since it eliminates the risks associated with landing on the asteroid. There are three separate bottles of nitrogen gas, which allow up to three sampling attempts. Although TAGSAM is a new technology, vacuum and micro-gravity tests of the TAGSAM sampler head have proven its ability to collect more than the required 60 grams of sample

The OSIRIS-REx Thermal Emission Spectrometer (OTES) provides mineral and temperature information by collecting infrared (from ~5 to 50 microns) spectral data from Bennu. In the infrared, most minerals have unique spectral signatures that are like fingerprints. By understanding which minerals correspond to specific spectral signatures, scientists can identify the minerals that are present on the surface of Bennu. Additionally, the emitted heat energy (temperature) at these wavelengths can tell the science team about physical properties of the surface, such as the average particle size. OTES is also used to measure the total thermal emission from Bennu. Thermal data from OTES will allow scientists to identify the mineral composition and temperature distribution of Bennu for global maps and local candidate sample-site areas.

Detailed Specifications and Instrument Operations

OTES's wavelength range, resolution, and radiometric performance are sufficient to resolve and identify the key vibrational absorption features of silicate, carbonate, sulfate, phosphate, oxide, and hydroxide minerals. While operating, OTES collects a single interferogram every 2 seconds. The motion of the spacecraft allows OTES to scan the surface of Bennu, gathering data that will be used to construct maps. No on-board data processing or compression is performed.

The OTES team is led by Philip Christensen (Instrument Scientist, ASU), Victoria Hamilton (Deputy Instrument Scientist, SwRI), and Greg Mehall (Instrument Manager, ASU).

The OSIRIS-REx Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (OVIRS) measures visible and infrared light from Bennu. OVIRS is sensitive from blue through near-infrared wavelengths, spanning 0.4 to 4.3 microns. OVIRS will split the light received from Bennu into its component wavelengths, much like a prism can split sunlight into a visible rainbow. Since different chemicals have unique spectral signatures, they can be identified this way. OVIRS will provide spectral maps that identify mineral and organic material globally and of candidate sample sites. It will also gather local spectral information of candidate sample sites.

Detailed Specifications and Instrument Operations

The OSIRIS-REx Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (OVIRS) is a point spectrometer that provides mineral and organic spectral maps and local spectral information of candidate sample sites. It also provides full asteroid spectral data, global spectral maps (20-m resolution), and spectra of the sample site (0.08-2-m resolution).

OVIRS spectra will identify volatile and organic-rich regions on Bennu. These data, in concert with OTES spectra, will guide sample-site selection. OVIRS spectral ranges and resolution will allow the creation of surface maps of mineralogical and molecular components including carbonates, silicates, sulfates, oxides, adsorbed water, and a wide range of organic molecules.

OVIRS can observe the entire surface of Bennu over a wide range of phase angles (the angle between OVIRS and the sun) of 3° or less during the asteroid survey. Spectral data obtained at different local times and phase angles, mostly during Detailed Survey will be combined with surface temperatures measured by OTES and the longer wavelength OVIRS channels to determine the actual albedo change from the OVIRS spectra; observations at high phase angles will emphasize the thermal contribution.

The OVIRS design is inexpensive, compact, has no moving parts, and allows for straightforward operation. The camera operates in a scanning mode in which the rotational motion of the asteroid is combined with a scanning motion of the spacecraft to sample a region of interest. Typical observations will provide global sampling of the surface with a spatial resolution of 20 meters at a fixed phase angle for measurements from 5-km altitude. At low altitudes, OVIRS obtains high spatial resolution measurements (~2m).

Two types of contamination could affect OVIRS' measurements. Molecular contaminants, and water in particular, can condense on the cold focal plane. To mitigate this, a nitrogen purge is used until launch. After launch, decontamination heaters bake off any remaining water or molecular contaminant before cooling. After this process, any residual signals from contamination can be calibrated out of OVIRS' data.

The OVIRS team is led by Dennis Reuter (Instrument Scientist, GSFC), Amy Simon (Deputy Instrument Scientist, GSFC), and Jason Hair (Instrument Manager, GSFC).

StowCam is a Malin Space Science Systems ECAM-C50 5-megapixel color camera, and is capable of acquiring still images and high-definition video. It is part of a Touch-and-Go Camera System (TAGCAMS) which consists of two redundant Navigation Cameras, and the single StowCam.

The OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite (OCAMS) consists of three cameras: PolyCam, MapCam, and SamCam. These cameras will "see" asteroid Bennu as the spacecraft first approaches it. OCAMS will then provide global image mapping and sample site imaging and characterization. Finally OCAMS will record the entire sampling event during the touch-and-go (TAG) maneuver.
Specifically:

PolyCam, an 8-inch telescope, is the first to "see" the asteroid from 2 million km away. Once the spacecraft is closer, it will image Bennu at high resolution.

MapCam searches for satellites and outgassing plumes. It maps the asteroid in 4 different colors, informs our model of asteroid shape, and provides high resolution imaging of the sample-site.

SamCam will continuously document the sample acquisition event and TAG maneuver.

More Information: Detailed Specifications and Instrument Operations

If any of these cameras should fail, the other two imagers can step in. PolyCam can detect Bennu at long-range; its larger plate scale extends its sensitivity by exposing for longer periods. MapCam will search for small satellites and outgassing. It will map the asteroid at 1-meter resolution in multiple colors and will perform detailed sample-site reconnaissance. It can also perform imaging to verify the spacecraft velocity relative to Bennu. SamCam will image down to millimeter scales during the sample collection. This allows it to be a second source for small-scale imaging within the sample error ellipse.

A single Camera Control Module (CCM) controls OCAMS operation during the mission. Commands are submitted and stored as scheduled sequences. The CCM operates the filter wheel, cameras, focusing mechanism, heaters, and the lamps of an in-flight calibration tracing system.

OCAMS is the latest in a long line of space-qualified cameras built by the University of Arizona. Past cameras include Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP), Huygens Descent Imager and Spectral Radiometer (DISR), Phoenix Surface Stereo Imager (SSI), and Phoenix Robotic Arm Camera (RAC).

The OCAMS team is led by Bashar Rizk (Instrument Scientist), Christian d'Aubigny (Deputy Instrument Scientist), and Chuck Fellows (Instrument Manager).

The Sample Return Capsule (SRC) is designed to hold and return the sample of Bennu's regolith to Earth. It has a heritage design that is based on the SRC used by Stardust to successfully return tail material from Comet Wild 2 in 2006.

In 2023 the OSIRIS-REx SRC will return between 60 grams and 2 kilograms of sample from Bennu. It will enter the atmosphere at a nominal entry angle of -8.2° and a velocity of 12.2km/s. The capsule will spin at a rate of 13 RPM. Spinning provides stability during vacuum flight and through the upper atmosphere, where it undergoes maximum heating. The aeroshell thermal protection system removes over 99% of the kinetic energy of the vehicle, protecting the sample from aerodynamic heating and keeping the sample below 75°C - a requirement for maintaining its pristine condition.

Less than 2 minutes after peak heating, the SRC will free-fall through the atmosphere and the onboard avionics will initiate parachute deployment. A stabilizing drogue parachute deploys while 33km above the Earth. When it is 3km in altitude, the main parachute deploys. On September 24, 2023, the SRC will land within a 80 x 25 km area at the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR). It takes 15 minutes for the SRC to land once it enters the Earth's atmosphere.

Upon atmospheric entry, the SRC will be tracked with UTTR radars to within ~10 m of the landing location. Once landed, crews will recover and transport the SRC to a staging area at UTTR. It is then prepared and transported to Johnson Space Center (JSC).

Air samples are taken at both landing site and the staging area to test for SRC outgassing. In addition, relevant soil samples will be taken from the landing site, as well as samples of any other materials the SRC may have come into contact with during landing and recovery.

The sample canister will be removed from the SRC and all hardware will be transported to the JSC Space Exposed Hardware cleanroom. Within 120 hours of landing, the sample canister will be opened in a curatorial facility at JSC. The science team and international cosmochemistry community will perform preliminary examination of the sample, followed by a detailed inventory in preparation for analysis.

The redundant guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) will provide information about the spacecraft's range to Bennu's surface during the TAG Rehearsal and TAG Maneuver, to ensure that the spacecraft maintains a safe distance from Bennu.

The OSIRIS-REx GN&C LIDAR is a 3D Flash LIDAR range camera provided by Advanced Scientific Concepts. It is capable of capturing a full array of 128×128 independently triggered 3D range pixels with co-registered intensity per frame, and up to 30 frames per second.

The NavCams, or Navigation Cameras, are part of the guidance, navigation, and control system on OSIRIS-REx. They are used for optical navigation of the spacecraft.

NavCam images will track star-fields and landmarks on Bennu to determine the spacecraft position during mission operations. Each NavCam is a Malin Space Science Systems ECAM-M50 5-megapixel monochrome camera, and is capable of acquiring still images and high-definition video. They are part of a Touch-and-Go Camera System (TAGCAMS) which consists of two redundant Navigation Cameras, and the single StowCam.

The High Gain Antenna (HGA) provides communication between the spacecraft and ground systems. The HGA will also be used for Doppler tracking and other radio science activities during the mission.

Click an instrument to inspect

The NavCams, or Navigation Cameras, are part of the guidance, navigation, and control system on OSIRIS-REx. They are used for optical navigation of the spacecraft.

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The High Gain Antenna (HGA) provides communication between the spacecraft and ground systems.

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Next stage

Sampling Bennu

After the sample site is selected, OSIRIS-REx will move into position to collect a sample of Bennu's surface material. The spacecraft's sampling arm will then touch the surface for five seconds as part of the Touch-And-Go (TAG) sampling maneuver.

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Contacting the surface of Bennu for a total of five seconds, the TAGSAM will release a burst of nitrogen gas, causing loose rocks and surface material to be stirred up and directed into a collector in the sampler head.

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Return Cruise

Bennu Earth OSIRIS-REx The sun

The window for departing Bennu opens in March 2021. At this time OSIRIS-REx will fire the main engines and leave Bennu with a speed of 0.32 km/s (716 mph). This burn will place OSIRIS-REx on a trajectory that intersects the orbit of the Earth in September 2023.

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Re-Entry

The SRC will hit the top of the atmosphere with a speed of 12.4 km/s (27,738 mph). The heat shield removes over 99% of the initial kinetic energy.

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SRC Descent

After entry the SRC will free fall until it reaches an altitude of 33.5 km (20.8 mi), when the drogue parachute deploys. At 3 km (1.9 mi) the main parachute is released, bringing the capsule in for a soft landing in the Utah desert on Sept. 24, 2023, concluding a seven year journey to Bennu and back.

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Progress on the OSIRIS-REx mission can be sent directly to you! Just enter your email below and we'll send you information when it becomes available.

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The Payload Fairing (PLF) is designed to provide a controlled environment for the spacecraft. The Atlas V large payload fairing (LPF) has a 4-m diameter cylindrical section topped by a conical section. The major sections of the payload fairings are the boattail, the cylindrical section, and the nose that is topped by a spherical cone.

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23 free christmas tree shape poem template

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23 Free Christmas Tree Shape Poem Template | Template Site

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Home Decorating Style 2016 for 23 Free Christmas Tree Shape Poem Template, you can see 23 Free Christmas Tree Shape Poem Template and more pictures for Home Interior Designing 2016 146392 at Template Site.

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A collection tips and tricks to get the most out of your 3Doodler experience.

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Make formal geometric constructions with a variety of tools and methods (compass and straightedge, string, reflective devices, paper folding, dynamic geometric software, etc.). Copying a segment; copying an angle; bisecting a segment; bisecting an angle; constructing perpendicular lines, including the perpendicular bisector of a line segment; and constructing a line parallel to a given line through a point not on the line.

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Educator Guide: Stomp Rockets | NASA/JPL Edu

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Make formal geometric constructions with a variety of tools and methods (compass and straightedge, string, reflective devices, paper folding, dynamic geometric software, etc.). Copying a segment; copying an angle; bisecting a segment; bisecting an angle; constructing perpendicular lines, including the perpendicular bisector of a line segment; and constructing a line parallel to a given line through a point not on the line.

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We have partnered together with Elmer's today to share this gorgeous black glue galaxy craft with you. I was compensated for this post and all opinions expressed are my own.

Summer break is more than half way gone and the hot temps have made air conditioning our best friend these last couple weeks. If you're looking for a fun activity to keep the kids busy indoors the next couple weeks before school starts look no further! This black glue galaxy craft is not only a gorgeous art project but it will keep kids busy and happy for hours. After making it they might even want to create some of our other black glue crafts like our pretty butterfly.

How to Make a Black Glue Galaxy Craft

With back to school coming quickly, now is the perfect time to stock up on Elmer's School Glue when you are out doing your back-to-school shopping. Elmer's School Glue is perfect for making arts and crafts projects year-round and the 4 oz. bottles help making small batches of black glue and slime a breeze.
Supplies: Instructions:
1. Start by mixing together your black glue. To do this, use a bottle of Elmer's School Glue that is about 75% full. Open the lid and squeeze in a generous amount of black acrylic paint. Put the lid back onto the school glue and then shake, shake, shake the bottle of glue for several minutes to incorporate as much of the black paint as possible.

2. Then remove the glue lid and give the mixture a stir using your skewer or stick. The end of a paintbrush works well for mixing too.

3. Before you begin tracing the template, test out the glue first on a napkin or separate piece of paper. Create some lines to experiment with the flow and spread of glue. Once you're happy with the way the glue flows, download the free galaxy template and print out whichever galaxy picture you'd like to use on your mixed media paper.

4. Using a steady hand, trace the lines of the black glue galaxy craft with black glue. Don't worry if the lines are not perfect or the glue pools a little, as this adds to the overall affect of the piece.

5. Leave the black glue to dry overnight. This step is important because if you paint your picture prior to the black glue drying your watercolors will mix with the black paint.

6. Once the black glue is completely dry, paint your picture with your watercolors.

7. Have fun playing around with the watercolors when you paint your galaxy. I love to outline sections with one color and then color in the middle with a different color. I did this when painting the different sections of the planets as you can see in the above picture.

To achieve the blue and black galaxy look around the planets, add a hefty stripe of blue watercolors on your paper. Then immediately use black watercolors to paint around the blue stripe. Allow the black to mix around the outline of the blue slightly so you don't have a harsh edge.

8. After allowing the watercolors to dry, grab your Elmer's Glitter Glue Pens. Use the different glitter glue pen colors to add details to your black glue galaxy craft such as a ring around your planet, extra bling in sections of your planets, stars and even colorful shooting stars. These Elmer's Glitter Glue Pens are amazing because they are easy to use and you achieve the look of glitter without any of the mess!

I recommend layering several different colors of the glitter glue together when creating the ring around your planet as it creates a colorful galactic-looking swirl around the ring.

Your black glue galaxy craft is finished!

Do you love this black glue art technique as much as we do? You'll also love our black glue cactus craft and black glue seahorses. Both include templates making your prep work a breeze!
For more fun kids craft ideas, visit Elmer's and sign up for their newsletter. Make sure to follow them on Facebook too!

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Gorgeous Black Glue Galaxy Craft | I Heart Crafty Things

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We have partnered together with Elmer's today to share this gorgeous black glue galaxy craft with you. I was compensated for this post and all opinions expressed are my own. Summer break is more than half way gone and the hot temps have made air conditioning our best friend these last couple weeks.

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We are big fans of fun science here at Fun-A-Day! My son, my preschool students, and visiting friends always enjoy the experiments we come up with. Engineer (my son's nickname here on the blog) helped me come up with this fizzing planets activity. It's perfect for a preschool space theme I'll be teaching soon!

Are you following Fun-A-Day's SPACE THEME board?
Related: Glowing Galaxy Water Bin Space Activity
fun science with "exploding" jupiters

Materials
Baking soda
Liquid watercolors (I used Discount School Supplies, and THESE are great too)
Water
Vinegar
Eye droppers

Prep
Engineer and I checked out some pictures of Jupiter online, then decided on what colors to incorporate into our experiment. We settled on white, red, and orange even though that might not be 100% scientifically correct. 😉

We made baking soda paste to create mini "explodable" Jupiters. For each color, we mixed a cup of baking soda with about 1/4 cup water. We left the white batch alone, of course, but added liquid watercolors to the other two. The paste was thick enough to be patted together into shapes. If yours is too runny, add a little more baking soda. If it's too crumbly to hold together, add a little more water.

Making & "exploding" Jupiters!
To make Jupiter, we grabbed bits of all three colors and mixed them together into a small ball. To make the uniform spherical shape, we used our newHandy Scoopers. We could have just used our hands, but Engineer and I were itching for an excuse to use our new toys. In case you're wondering, we're aware that Jupiter's colors are more in a striped formation. We weren't able to get the stripes right, even though we tried!

After we had a few Jupiters done, it was time for some fizzing planet fun! Engineer called it "exploding Jupiter!" We drip-dropped vinegar on the planets and watched them bubble and dissolve. I had such a blast listening to all of his observations and questions about the chemical reaction! Needless to say, lots and lots of fun science ensued! We ended up making and "exploding" about seven planets before it was time for dinner. The kiddo asked if we could make other planets too, so I have a feeling we'll be doing just that soon!
Related: Fun Science Experiment with Fizzy Stars
What kind of fun science experiments do your children/students enjoy the most? I'd love to hear about them over at Fun-A-Day's Facebook page!

This fun science activity is a part of the A-Z Science Experiments series. Be sure to pop over there and see the rest of the experiments running through the alphabet this month!

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Fun Science for a Space Theme | Fizzing Planets | Fun-A-Day!

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We are big fans of fun science here at Fun-A-Day! My son, my preschool students, and visiting friends always enjoy the experiments we come up with. Engineer (my son's nickname here on the blog) helped me come up with this fizzing planets activity. It's perfect for a preschool space theme I'll be teaching soon!