If you were growing up in the 1960’s, you might have watched the first moon landing on television. Back then, space exploration was still in its very early stages…in fact, having a television in the house to watch it unfold was a pretty new luxury! Seeing astronauts making the very first human footprints on the surface of the moon was nothing short of a miracle.

Invention and Innovation

We’ve come a long way since 1969. Further exploration and scientific study allowed us to send many more people into space, launch rockets and satellites that observe and provide information about our planet and solar system, as well as providing entertainment. We’ve built a space station to allow scientific research in space over long periods of time, and the Hubble telescope, which sends us extraordinary images of our galaxy and beyond.

A Robot Revolution!

Now that we’re ready to explore even deeper and further into the secrets of space, scientists and engineers have designed advanced robots that can withstand the harsh and unforgiving environment outside Earth’s atmosphere and make even more remarkable discoveries about our universe and our place within it. These robots can survive extreme temperatures, an inhospitable atmosphere and terrain that is impossible for human beings to wander. These robots are equipped with cameras and sensors that send back information and images for scientists to study. They also can perform tasks that might be risky for people, or do work like collecting samples, conducting simple tests, making repairs on equipment and taking measurements. This saves more time for astronauts and scientists to perform experiments and keep researching and exploring. Although these robots can cost billions of dollars, they don’t need air, food, water or a bathroom!

The Mars rovers—Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity and soon-to-be-launched Perseverance have helped us understand our neighbor in our solar system, finding out what Mars is made of. They can examine rocks from different areas of the planet and move over the terrain in the freezing temperatures. Their biggest contribution has been to discover evidence of water and signs of life—or the possibility of life–that may one day make it possible for humans to journey to the Red Planet.

Another rover, named Puffer, which stands for Pop-Up Flat Folding Explorer Rover, can change its shape and flatten itself to look inside small spaces.

BRUIE, a Buoyant Rover for Under-Ice Exploration, can float and roll along under ice as it takes pictures and gathers information. One day this robot may travel to the moons of Jupiter or Saturn.

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Another explorer robot is called Hedgehog.  This strangely shaped cubic robot has “spikes” on all sides that let it tumble and bounce over rough ground, and works on no matter what side it lands. It is designed to explore space’s smaller objects, like asteroids and comets.

Humanoid Robots

Space engineers have designed robots with the capability of doing tasks best done by human hands and movements, acting as helpers on the International Space Station for dangerous, time-consuming or simple tasks. R2 is a robot that looks like the upper torso of a human. It can use tools to fix equipment and can provide an extra set of hands for astronauts on board the space station. It can clean, hit buttons and flip switches. One of its most important jobs is testing the air quality onboard the space station. This job requires zero movement, which is near-impossible for a person, and since R2 doesn’t breathe, the results of the air quality test won’t be affected by a person breathing in the test area.

Valkyrie, also called R5, is a fully-limbed humanoid robot that has more advanced sensors and capabilities, making it a useful tool both inside and outside the space station. One day, Valkyrie may be sent to the moon or Mars to help build a place in which humans can live and work.

Robots have a vital role to play in our exploration and understanding of the unknown wonders of space!
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For more challenging play try a monthly-themed Groovy Lab in a Box.  There is no better way to educate your STEMists than to keep their minds screen-free, design learning to create and solve, through the engineering design process and STEM-related activities. Furthermore, our monthly box activates thinking, questioning, inquiring and original creation as we guide children through scientific inquiry and engineering design process.

For more about robots and to make your own robot check out our “Groovy Bots” box for a Lesson in Robotics. During your ENGINEERING DESIGN CHALLENGE you will investigate crystals, solubility, evaporation, and much, much, more.

A groovy approach to hands-on Next Generation Science Standards,  design based learning… Groovy Lab in a Box!

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