Build a satellite for a mission
Satellites are incredibly useful tools, and they’ve changed the way we monitor and track things on Earth and in space.
Satellites are built to perform specific functions. All satellites have common components like batteries and solar panels to keep them powered, but the payload components are specific to the kind of mission data they are designed to collect. The satellite’s purpose determines the orbit it occupies. The article Building satellites for Earth observation provides more information about components and orbits including specifics about the payload sensors.
People who build satellites have lots to think about and lots of decisions to make! Do you think that you have what it takes to build a satellite for a specific mission? And if you succeed, what kind of data will you collect and what will it tell you?
Build a satellite
This interactive simulation is designed to develop students’ understanding of satellites and their usefulness with real-life research in Aotearoa New Zealand. The simulation requires users to build their knowledge and understanding about the requirements of each mission along with the satellite components needed to successfully launch a satellite that is fit for the mission’s purpose.
The simulation has three missions:
Find dark vessels fishing illegally
Track an albatross population
Monitor Earth movements
At each stage, there is access to a help button and links to additional resources that will support student learning in order to make accurate decisions throughout the satellite build and launch.
Simulation instructions
Click and drag components onto the satellite outline. Components can be added and removed. You will need to select all of the essential components as well as choose the correct payload component for your mission. Choosing the wrong payload means your satellite will not be able to collect data. Hover your mouse or finger over and select the three dots on each component to find out more information about its purpose.
Select a suitable orbit for your satellite’s mission. Choosing the wrong orbit means your satellite won’t be able to collect data.
For optimal viewing, use landscape orientation when using a tablet or iPad.
This is a simulation, so please note there may be small inaccuracies and satellite components and orbits are not to scale.
See the activity Build a satellite for a mission for a mission for additional support in using this interactive simulation.
Related content
These resources provide helpful background information.
Read more about building satellites.
Discover more about using satellites to track:
Activity ideas
Use the data the satellites collect during the simulation to analyse:
albatross nesting sites on a Chatham Islands sea stack
slow slip Earth movements near the East Coast’s Māhia Peninsula.
Consider doing the activity Interpreting observations from satellite images prior to these activities. It introduces strategies that are useful when interpreting satellite images.
Acknowledgement
This resource has been produced with funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the support of the New Zealand Space Agency.
Rights: Crown copyright
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the New Zealand Space Agency
The New Zealand Space Agency, part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, is the lead government agency for space policy, regulation and sector development.
There are three different missions to choose from. Each mission is supported by an article with helpful background information and an activity to analyse the data the satellite collects.
In this activity, students build a fit-for-purpose satellite and send it into the correct orbit to gather observational data.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
identify some of the essential components that satellites use
match a payload component to a particular mission
choose the orbit for a particular mission
use Hub resources to inform the decisions they make
analyse the data the satellite has collected (optional).
Download the Word file (see link below).
The Hub has wrap-around resources that take this interactive from a fun game to a deeper learning experience.
Building satellites for Earth observation provides background knowledge about missions, payloads and orbits.
The following articles provide background information about the purpose of each mission. The activities feature the type of data the satellite collects. They contain simple suggestions on how to use this data as well as prompting questions to build student understanding of the science capabilities ‘Gather and interpret data’ and ‘Interpret representations’.
Analysing satellite data for finding dark vessels – activity
How are satellites helping albatross? – article
How do we know about Earth movements? – article
Analysing satellite data to track Earth movements – activity
The resources are easily accessed while using the interactive – look for the red buttons.
Related content
Find out about MethaneSAT – a purpose-built satellite that detects methane emissions. The article Measuring methane from space explores some of MethaneSAT’s components and how scientists are working to ensure the data it collects is accurate.
Activity ideas
Make a physical model of the satellite with the activity Build a 3D satellite model.
Practise matching up satellite images with on-the-ground observations in the simple activity Validating remote sensing observations.
Build on your engineering skills – use the interactive Rocket launch challenge to send the En rocket into space.
Acknowledgement
This resource has been produced with funding from the Ministry of Business, n and Employment and the support of the New Zealand Space Agency.
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the New Zealand Space Agency
The New Zealand Space Agency, part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, is the lead government agency for space policy, regulation and sector development.
