Australian Virtual Astronaut Challenge
Mission 7 | Evaluate
Test your solution
Evaluate the solution against the identified problem.
Register for the 2024 challenge here
Introduction
This stage of the iSTEM engineering design process requires students to determine the effectiveness of their first design solution. What worked? What did not? Are the re better ways to address the problem?
Use the lesson below to commence solving one of the following scenarios
- Earth Observation
- Robotics
- Home on the Moon
- Growing food in space
- AI in Space
Mission Brief
Key Questions for Students to consider
- What is your evaluation criteria?
- What revisions or improvements can be made to the design?
- How innovative is the solution?
- Has the solution produced any unintended outcomes?
- Can your design choices be justified?
- What was discovered from the testing and experimentation of the solution?
- Is there more experimentation and testing required?
- How well did the solution meet the success criteria
Possible Activities
- Complete testing and experimentation.
- Analyse and evaluate the impact of the solution on the environment and society.
- Complete evaluations and feedback to establish if the solution meets the design brief.
- Collect, organise, and interpret data to inform and evaluate design decisions.
- Use peer evaluation and self-reflection to identify any improvements
Suggested Learning Sequence – Mission 7
Our expert curriculum designers have developed a suggested Mission 7 learning sequence for teachers. The following is for the full set of AVA resources, however, teachers are encouraged to only use activities that are most suitable for their own class and school setting.
Sub Mission 1: Setting the Scene Watch the introductory video for Mission 7, which includes Nick De Leon and Ted Tagami.
Sub Mission 2: Experiment Provide students with this worksheet and get them to devise an experiment that will test one of the criteria for success that was set at the beginning of the design process.
Sub Mission 3: SWOT Provide students with SWOT analysis worksheet and get them to complete the analysis for their prototype design.
Sub Mission 4: Evaluation – Criteria Provide students with this worksheet. Get students to evaluate the prototype against the success criteria that were established at the beginning of the design process.
Sub Mission 5: Evaluation – Perspectives Provide students with a Perspectives worksheet. Get students to complete this modified PMI evaluation from different stakeholder perspectives.
Sub Mission 6: Scenarios Get students to watch the selected videos from their selected scenario to provide additional context for their project.
Downloadable Resources
Evaluate – Experiment
In this worksheet students devise an experiment for their prototype and then evaluate it against a criteria for success.
Evaluate – SWOT
In this worksheet students are invited to complete a SWOT analyses of their prototype design solutions.
Evaluate – Criteria
In this worksheet students evaluate their prototype against the criteria for success, established at the start.
Evaluate – Perspectives
In this worksheet students evaluate their prototype using a modified PMI which is completed from different stakeholder perspectives.
All Scenarios – Resources
General background information for teachers and students to support challenge activities
Keira Chrystal – Macquarie University
Keira Chrystal from Macquarie Orbital talks with Ted Tagami about collaboration, learning from failure and the work at Macquarie Orbital. Keira’s team is working on a biological payload that uses 3D printed technologies on cubesats. (07:15 min).
Orion Evacuation Evaluation
How well astronauts and ground crew can get out of the Orion spacecraft during in an emergency on the launch pad is critical. Evaluation was completed at NASA/Johnson Space Center’s Space Vehicle Mockup Facility (2:03 min).
Evaluating the prototypes with AWS Aerospace & Satellite Solutions
Evaluating the prototype for an AI landing a rocket on the moon
Scenario 1: Earth Observations
Professor Russell Boyce – Satellite Technologies
Professor Russell Boyce from the UNSW Space Canberra talks about Australia’s M2 Microsatellite. Russell discusses the skill and expertise needed to be part of Australia’s space industry. (06.33 minutes)
Climate observation by NASA’s 23 satellites
Decades of observation of our Earth have produced clear indications of changes in our climate. Karen St Germain, NASA’s Earth Science Director details these findings (13:43 min).
Scenario 2: Robotics
Closing date for submissions: Semester 1- Friday 28 June 2024; Semester 2 – To be confirmed
Download the mission brief
AROSE – Evaluating
AROSE – Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth consortium works to leverage existing remote operations expertise in the Australian resource sector and catalyse knowledge transfer between terrestrial and off-Earth domains. Newton Campbell, Director – Space Programs speaks with Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education on evaluating missions for space. (4:10 Minutes)
Harrison Verrios – Monash Nova Rover
Harrison Verrios from Monash University talks about building Rovers as part of the national and international University competitions. Consider becoming involved in these student rover competitions in your tertiary studies, they are a highly regarded by space industry. (9:05 minutes)
Scenario 3: Home on the Moon
Maintaining bone and muscle health in microgravity
If we are to colonise the Moon, we need to know the long-term effects of microgravity on Humans. NASA delivered the ForceShoe, designed by XSENS, to the International Space Station (ISS) to collect data for studying the loads placed on crew members bodies while exercising (1:36 min).
Inflatable Habitat Burst Pressure Test at NASA
Engineers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, in collaboration with Sierra Space and ILC Dover, tested the ability of an inflatable lunar habitat to withstand internal pressure and the maximum internal pressure required to cause the failure of the habitat’s woven, structural shell (34 seconds)
Scenario 4: Growing Plants in Space
Onboard Artemis I: Effect of Spaceflight on Seeds
Dr. Federica Brandizzi (Michigan State University) talks about Effect of Spaceflight on Seeds with Improved Nutritional Value study, one of four studies under NASA’s Biological & Physical Sciences Division’s Biological Experiment-01. (2:20 min).
Onboard Artemis I: Studying Fungi in Space
Dr. Zheng Wang (Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory) describes Investigating the Roles of Melanin and DNA Repair on Adaptation and Survivability of Fungi in Deep Space (1:49 min).
Scenario 5: AI in Space
Artificial Intelligence for Earth Observation – GeoHero
Dr. Raian Maretto discusses computing power and the possibilities of AI for solving environmental issues from space (11:07 min).
Machine learning – Evaluating prototypes
Dr Sara Webb, Astrophysicist, Swinburne University of Technology talks about how she evaluates machine learning prototypes (1:58 Minutes)
Artificial intelligence helping to fight fires
Firefighters are accessing space-based technology and artificial intelligence to help with fighting fires (4:23 min).
Scenario 6: Telecommunications in Space
Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration (LLCD)
LLCD was a mission led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center to prove the fundamental concepts of laser communications at extremely long distances. MIT Lincoln Laboratory built the space terminal and primary ground terminal (3:54 min).
Servicing spacecraft in orbit with the Space Machines Company
Join Jon McLean, Olivia Heaton & Sharmila Fernando from the Space Machines Company as we learn how communications satellites and more can be serviced whilst in orbit (10:49 Minutes)
Australian Virtual Astronaut Challenge
Next Mission | Iterate
Improve your solution
Refine design solutions, revise, and continually improve.
