Request High School Project - Apollo - NASSP

[weatherman446]

Hello,
In our AP Physics class we have a project due in May. A classmate and I thought a simulated Apollo 11 mission would be fitting for a physics project. I have browsed through various Apollo missions and tutorials. I was wondering, what is a good mission pack and tutorial to help us simulate, as close to reality as possible, the Apollo 11 mission. Keep in mind, we understand this will be a great educational endeavor and don't mind studying up.

Thanks

 

[Quick_Nick]

Hello,
In our AP Physics class we have a project due in May. A classmate and I thought a simulated Apollo 11 mission would be fitting for a physics project. I have browsed through various Apollo missions and tutorials. I was wondering, what is a good mission pack and tutorial to help us simulate, as close to reality as possible, the Apollo 11 mission. Keep in mind, we understand this will be a great educational endeavor and don't mind studying up.

Thanks

I recommend using this tutorial with NASSP 6.4.2.
Good luck!
And to the forum!

 

[pattersoncr]

You might want to use ASMO rather than NASSP for a high school project. It will have all of the physics (trajectory, course corrections, etc.) without quite so much button pushing. The button pushing doesn't really contribute to the physics project aspect of this.

 

[tl8]

Don't forget the AMSO may be a good choice as well (Better graphics), but that would depend on how you are to present you project.

Also it won't be a bad idea to learn the basic space flight skills in the default DeltaGlider.

 

[tblaxland]

This tutorial is AMSO based and has lots of good info:
http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=1303

The button pushing doesn't really contribute to the physics project aspect of this.

Unless you are interested in learning about how the systems work (but maybe that is more engineering than physics).

If you are interested in the spacecraft operation and systems you may want to check out Project Apollo 7 Beta (evolution of NASSP 6.4.2). The have a great number of the spacecraft systems simulated, including the Apollo Guidance Computer. It is a beta though, so be prepared that not everything will be as complete as AMSO and NASSP 6.4.2 (particularly documentation).
http://nassp.sourceforge.net/wiki/Main_Page

For some great historical information, have a look at the Apollo Flight Journals, Apollo Lunar Surface Journals and Apollo By The Numbers:
http://history.nasa.gov/ap08fj/index.htm
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/frame.html
http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4029/SP-4029.htm

 

[weatherman446]

We would like something as historically accurate as possible. That way we can explain what happened and the physics involved with the procedures. Thanks for all the help so far!

 

[NukeET]

We would like something as historically accurate as possible. That way we can explain what happened and the physics involved with the procedures. Thanks for all the help so far!

Then may I suggest:


http://www.orbithangar.com/searchauth.php?search=nukeet

 

[MajorTom]

And in case some of your fellow students, less enthusiastic about space exploration, start up the usual whining about "money should instead be spent on _____" (fill in the blank) you ought to direct them to read Dr. Stuhlinger's letter:

http://www.resonancepub.com/space.htm
(Scroll down this page a bit. Probably worth printing out)