NASA Engineers test our the Mars Pathfinder's airbag landing system View larger

Soft Landing Challenge

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Patrons use craft sticks, balloons, and rubber bands to design an airbag system that can safely land a dropped egg.

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Teacher's Guide

Provides classroom connections, key concepts, connections to science standards, and additional resources.

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Related Programming Resources

Hints for uses in your library Introduce the activity by showing the challenge video. If you have time, show the engineering profile video as well! The engineering profile video provides kids with a real-world connection for the hands-on challenge they are doing.
Related Links Websites:
What is Gravity?
Different Gravity
Gravity: It's What Keeps Us Together
What Is Microgravity
Rocket Lesson Plans from NASA
Kinetic and Potential Energy

Images:
Viking/Pathfinder/Sojourner

Videos:
Our World: Gravity in Space
Gravity on Earth Versus Gravity in Space: What's the Difference?
Simulating the Low-Gravity Conditions of Space in the Lab
Potential and Kinetic Energy
Real World: Work, Force, Energy and Motion
Originating Source PBS Learning Media / NASA
Related Books
[Suggest a book]
You Are the First Kid on Mars
Floating in space
You Wouldn't Want to Live Without Gravity!
Down to Earth: the Story of Gravity
Spaceships and Rockets
Science Adventures with Max the Dog
Gravity
Breaking the Chains of Gravity

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Soft Landing Challenge

Soft Landing Challenge

Patrons use craft sticks, balloons, and rubber bands to design an airbag system that can safely land a dropped egg.