Welcome to Asteroid Academy!
You’re about to embark on a journey to meet some of the coolest underwater scientists on the planet, and we’re super excited to be making the introductions!
This is your ‘virtual habitat’ for the next few months as you meet the NASA team responsible for training the astronauts who work on the International Space Station, and this is where you’ll find your class materials, videos from the scientists, experiments and more. Every two weeks we’ll release a new module, including videos, lessons, quizzes, games and bonus interactive pages, which you can work through over the course of the two weeks. You’ll keep access to all of the modules once they’re open to you as well, so you can go back to review anytime.
At the end of each Unit (each Unit is three modules long), you’ll receive an overall review module to work on. The Review module has vocabulary, general and crossword quizzes, as well as Bonus essay questions that give you a chance to rack up extra points. A week after we send you the Review module, we’ll send out the next Lessons Mod and get started on the next unit.
On the left side menu under My Modules, you’ll find links to your lessons (grouped in modules and released every two weeks), as well as lots of other great content. There’s a place for you to make notes, upload your own materials, suggest projects or experiments yourself, and even talk to other kids in your group if you’ve registered as part of a class. There’s a blog section called The Asteroid Blog where you can find cool or interesting news about some of the things you’re learning about along the way, and each lesson and review section even has games as well as quizzes to help make your time fun while you’re learning! You’ll find any important announcements here on this page – for example, when we schedule a new Livestream, we’ll post it here first.
Ready to get started? Have a look around and let’s go!
The Asteroid Blog
You’ll find all of the blog posts in our Archive under The Asteroid Blog link in the left hand menu, but below here, you’ll find the newest Asteroid Blog posts as we publish them. Enjoy!
Young Scientist Spotlight: Boyan Slat
Boyan Slat was born in the Netherlands in 1994. He was interested in Science and Engineering from a young age. When he was 14, he (along with help from some Delft University of Technology students) launched 213 water rockets.
Fashion from Plastic Waste
Adidas is one of the biggest names in the sports shoe business. What isn’t as well known is that they are also very committed to reducing the amount of plastics consumed.
Now You See Them, Now You Don’t
Human beings use a lot of plastic. Plastic is cheap and convenient and can be used in almost everything. This plastic addiction has led to big problems for the environment, especially the oceans.
Young Scientist Spotlight: Annie Ostojic
Annie Ostojic began winning state and national recognition for her scientific projects and inventions as a 9-year-old student at Frank Hammond Elementary School. She won her grade division at the Indiana State Science Fair in Indianapolis for her project, “Bee a Good Packer,” which explored prism shapes for better container packing.
NASA Training for Future Lunar Missions
When Gene Cernan stepped back into the Challenger lander on 14 December, 1972 and departed the surface of the moon, many thought that man’s time on the moon was over forever.
But maybe not.
Lionfish for Lunch
Lionfish are a problem. They’ve been a problem in the Western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico for at least 40 years. They’re a problem because, as an invasive species with no natural predators and voracious appetites, their population has boomed, and native species have suffered.
Dubai Unleashes Robotic Shark!
There is something lurking along the waterfronts of Dubai, South Africa, and the Netherlands, but it isn’t out to get you – it’s out to get trash.
Deep Water Coral Reef Discovered
At the Rockall Bank, 480 kilometers west of Ireland, in the deep ocean waters past the continental shelf, Irish and British scientists have discovered a potential “sponge” reef.
Grow Your Own Coral
Keeping a saltwater aquarium is a beautiful and popular hobby. It’s also an expensive one. There’s the cost of the tank, the fish, the equipment, and of course, the coral. Aquarium coral can cost anywhere from $40 for beginner corals, up to $300 for exotic types.
What is Coral Bleaching?
Coral reefs are famous for their brilliant colours. What many people don’t realize is that the coral themselves are white. They get those fabulous colours via a symbiotic relationship with tiny plants called zooxanthellae that usually live inside the coral.
Take a Deep Breath
Freediving has a very simple premise: you, underwater. That’s it. No SCUBA tanks or any other breathing assistance. Just you, holding your breath for as long as you can. Simple, but increasingly popular, and potentially very dangerous.
Beating Climate Change
Coral is picky. Too hot, too cold, not enough sunlight, too much sunlight, too much salt in the water, pollution; coral is the Goldilocks of the ocean world.