Interstellar Evacuation Workshop
If the Solar System became uninhabitable, would you have a plan to escape?
Getting to the Moon is hard enough, but how would you get to a planet around another star? This workshop walks the line between science fiction and space reality, encouraging your students to make decisions about how they’d approach the huge task of evacuating the Earth. Breaching topics such as rocket choice, packing requirements, interstellar travel and exoplanets, your students are guaranteed to see their local universe in a new light after forging their way through space to survive.
Show your students the bigger picture
This workshop works well with GCSE and A-level students to showcase where the science they are learning in their qualifications comes into play in the real world of space exploration. We mix short lecture-style entertaining presentations with hands-on activities to keep your students engaged throughout the workshop, and give opportunities for team work so students can practise using tactical negotiation! Our activities include both maths and creative challenges.
Workshop line up
We begin with a rocket quiz and explore school science concepts that are important when travelling to space. We explore the best rockets on the planet right now and their capabilities.
After selecting a rocket, the students will use origami skills to explore how to pack their rocket in the most efficient way (prizes for winners of this activity).
We next turn our focus out past the Kuiper Belt to seek out options for Earth 2.0 and try to imagine the distances and timescales involved in taking such long journeys. We discuss the viability of some of the propulsion methods, allowed by physics, to get us to the nearest planets in less than a thousand years!
The workshop includes details of solar sail technology and a clip from an interview with NASA physicist Les Johnson on his research.
Workshop Quick Facts
Student packs includeS
- Certificate
- Mission Astro Pin Badge
- Online resources accessed via QR code. These include:
- Information sheets.
- Worksheets.
- Full interview on interstellar travel with Les Johnson.
- Links to space blogs.
- Crossword Puzzle.
Lasting memories of their experience with Mission Astro
Our workshop is guaranteed to last more than just a day; the QR code provided allows them to continue their adventure through interstellar space online. Prizes will be given out during the workshop to activity winners. We often give out Legami Astronaut pens and copies of ‘The Invisible Universe’ by Dr Matt Bothwell.
Host Requirements
To deliver this workshop, we require a screen to project on, that students have access to the internet on their devices and ample desk space for students to work in teams. We have a resource that is A3 colour that the students need one each of for the workshop as well as another copy of A4 pages that they will find useful to have printed. We require this to be printed by the host school wherever possible as the printing costs locally are very high and it is more cost effective for schools to do this themselves. (Our printing shop is £1 per sheet of colour!)
Book Interstellar Evacuation Workshop
To book us for your school or ask us a question about this experience, fill out our enquiry form and we’ll get back to you within 2 working days.