Troop 12 merit badge page

        On this page you will find information pertaining to merit badges that are sponsored by the troop.

Space Exploration

  A.    Space Exploration merit badge update:

- All scouts working on this merit badge should work on requirements 5, 7, and 8 at home with your parents (see below) or by yourself, but before the next meeting, so that you can give Dr. Blake your written work to be checked off as completed.


Requirements to Complete (as listed in the Merit Badge book - Note:  some of the required material is in the book, or you can look for it on the Internet)  For the written parts below, you may wish to keep a journal and put all your responses in it.  You can use lined paper and just staple your sheets together.  Identify each requirement by number.  Make sure you put your name on your journal... The notes in yellow tell you what you need to do!!!

5. Discuss what has been learned about the Moon and planets by manned and unmanned spacecraft exploration and the possible benefits of new knowledge.  Or, write a paragraph or two in your journal.  Do TWO of the following:
 

a. Construct a data table of recent information about the planets.  For each planet, give important facts, including distance from the Sun, period of revolution, rotation, number of moons, etc. Internet sites might provide all this information in one place.  I still want you to make the chart...
 

b. Make a scrapbook of magazine photographs and news clippings about planetary research.  Three or four separate photographs or clippings, on a couple of journal pages.

 

c. Design a spacecraft that will be sent on a mission to another planet to take samples of its surface and return them to Earth.  Name the planet your spacecraft will visit;  and in your design, show how the spacecraft will work and cope with the environment of that planet. Talk to father - does he want a paper or an explanation - if you complete this part of the requirement you may have a career ahead at NASA

 

7.  Design an Earth-orbiting space station.  Make drawings or a model of your station.  Within your design, consider and plan for the following:
 

a. Source of energy
 

b. How it will be constructed
 

c. Life-support system
 

d. Purpose and function

 

Deal with these considerations in a paper.


 

8.  Discuss with your counselor two possible careers in space exploration.  Write a paragraph or two on each of two careers for your journal.