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Become a Dawn Ion Propulsion Field Test Teacher

		Participant experiments with Interactive Ion Propulsion simulation. Credit: Elizabeth Warner, UMD

The ion propulsion module has many entry points into a high school physics curriculum. It can be used to enhance lessons on conservation of momentum, by having students experience positive charges attracting negative charges; or it can be inserted during instruction about electrostatic forces. Electric potential, electric fields, relative ground, electromagnetic (EM), and even plasma physics are addressed. The module contains an exceptional review of ionization that can be taken to the level of using the ionization potential of Xenon to calculate the required kinetic energy (KE) of the emitted electrons. Ion Propulsion is a rich application of many key physics concepts and can be introduced at many points in the physics curriculum. The evaluation study will be conducted with 11th and 12th grade physics during the Spring and Fall of 2008. Please help us determine its best use in physics classes by becoming a Dawn Ion Propulsion Field Test Teacher.
+ View study description and sign up (PDF 56 KB)

	Two students exhibit their constructed Dawn spacecraft model. Courtesy: McREL + See young engineer entries

Become a Dawn Young Engineer!

Kids of all ages can become a Dawn Young Engineer by constructing your own Dawn paper spacecraft model and sending us a picture of you holding your spacecraft.

Use  the following rules to become a Dawn Young Engineer:

1. Print and build a Dawn paper spacecraft model.
   + Spacecraft Model (PDF)
   + Assembly Instructions (PDF)
2. Have someone take a picture of you holding your spacecraft.
3. Have a parent or guardian complete a photo release form.
   + Photo Release (Word Document 28k)
4. Send your photo and permission form to askdawn@mcrel.org
5. See your picture on the Dawn Young Engineers page. We will only post your first name and last initial. *

JPL Open House participants exhibit their constructed Dawn spacecraft model. Courtesy: McREL    + JPL Open House Gallery

If you attended the 2007 JPL Open House event, see your entry posted on the JPL Gallery.

*According to the 2002 Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, absolutely no image will be posted on this site without parental or guardian permission. No locator information, including a child's city, state, or school will be posted with a child's image.

Investigate Cratering!

Contribute to the scientific understanding of the surfaces of solar system bodies.
Clickworkers is designed to help you understand the role that surface features, in particular craters, play in gathering information about solar system bodies. + Learn More