Lesson Plan - Space Waste

Watch the Video
Build background knowledge about space by watching the video “Newsie’s Challenge: Exploring Our Solar System” as a class. Discuss: Which facts from the video did you find most surprising or interesting?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• surveillance 
• maneuver

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about ways space junk could be a threat to people.

1. Based on the article, how did so much debris end up in space?
The article notes that more than 100 million pieces of debris have ended up in space because humans have been sending satellites and spacecraft into space since the 1950s. People have launched thousands of satellites into orbit, and hundreds of astronauts have traveled into space. Some of the satellites and other materials used in space exploration could remain in space for centuries.
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2. Describe two ways people are trying to tackle the problem of space waste.
One way people are trying to tackle the problem of space waste is by tracking the trash and taking action when a piece of debris poses a threat. Another way is by developing tools to remove debris from space, like giant robotic arms that would pull waste toward Earth’s atmosphere, where it would burn up.
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3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “Tracking Trash”?
The purpose of the sidebar, “Tracking Trash,” is to describe and show some examples of space junk, like a glove left behind by an astronaut, a tool bag that floated away from the International Space Station, and a satellite launched in 1958.
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Featured Skill: Reading a Diagram
Use the skill builder “Tracking Space Trash” to examine which nations have generated the most space debris. Discuss why the U.S. has created more than other nations. (The U.S. has launched the most satellites and spacecraft.)
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