Space Program

Sounds on the Web

The space program has been an enormous part of the history of the United States. It is one reason why our country is considered to be one of the most technologically advanced in the world. However, none of this could have taken place without mathematicians and people in related fields, such as engineering and computer science. It is important for young students to realize what they can do with the skills they learn in math class, should they pursue this path. Working for NASA is one choice that would be open to them. Therefore, having a math unit centered around a theme of the space program would be beneficial to students, as well as fun. Many math activities based on real-life problems faced by NASA can be found by following this link. The entries below link to pages with historical sounds from the space program that could be used to supplement the unit and generate interest from the students.

Apollo 11 #1 – This link will take you to a page where you can play a clip of Neil Armstrong’s famous “first step on the moon” dialogue. This sound is very important to the history of the space program because it documents the first time a human walked on the moon.

Date visited – 4/21/2004

http://www.earthstation1.com/pgs/space/des-a11step.wav.html

Apollo 11 #2 – The dialogue heard in this clip confirms the receipt of the first video footage of the moon taken by a person. This event was immensely important to our understanding of the moon and its surface, so it should be included in a history of the space program.

Date visited – 4/21/2004

http://www.earthstation1.com/pgs/space/des-a11wlk09.wav.html

Apollo 13 #1 – This link plays the countdown and liftoff of Apollo 13. Although this is not an imperative sound clip to hear to understand the history of the space program, it would definitely serve to arouse student interest and could be used at the beginning of the unit to help with the introduction.

Date visited – 4/23/2004

http://www.earthstation1.com/pgs/space/des-a13_001.wav.html

Apollo 13 #2 – A short but famous clip of Jim Lovell reporting to Houston that they “have a problem” can be found by following this link. This clip, made famous by the movie Apollo 13, would be a great segue into a discussion of all of the problems faced by the shuttle’s crew.

Date visited – 4/23/2004

http://www.earthstation1.com/pgs/space/des-a13002c.wav.html

Apollo 13 #3 – This clip contains the dialogue between Apollo 13 and Houston when the shuttle reports that it is venting something into space. Along with the above clip, this would be an excellent addition to a discussion of the unlucky Apollo 13.

Date visited – 4/23/2004

http://www.earthstation1.com/pgs/space/des-a13vent.wav.html

Apollo 13 #4 – Clicking on this link will play the celebratory dialogue that takes place when the shuttle is first seen after its dangerous reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere. This clip would be a good wrap-up to a discussion of Apollo 13, or it could be used after students have solved a simulation problem in which they have successfully landed a space shuttle.

Date visited – 4/23/2004

http://www.earthstation1.com/pgs/space/des-a13chute.wav.html

Challenger 51L #1 – In 1986, the Challenger shuttle exploded one minute and thirteen seconds after lift-off, killing all seven crew members. Although this clip is rather long, it is important for students to hear a portion of it to know that, despite all of the wonderful effects of the space program, sometimes missions result in tragedy. [To access this clip, click on “Shuttle Missions,” then “next,” and then “STS 51L Challenger.”]

Date visited – 4/21/2004

http://www.spacesounds.com/missions/index.html

Friendship 7 #1 – This mission was flown by famous astronaut John Glenn. The clip is one of the most exciting shuttle launches on record, and would be a great way to arouse student interest.

Date visited – 4/23/2004

http://www.earthstation1.com/pgs/space/des-Glenn_Launch.wav.html

Friendship 7 #2 – This is a clip of John Glenn reporting that “all systems are a go.” However it is not necessary to play this clip while studying the Friendship 7 mission. It could be played while introducing the unit to get students’ attention.

Date visited – 4/23/2004

http://www.earthstation1.com/pgs/space/des-Glenn_All_systems_are_go.wav.html

Kennedy’s Speech – In his 1961 speech to Congress, President Kennedy spoke of his goal to land a man on the moon. This speech resulted in the Apollo missions. Playing this clip for the class would be an essential part of a description of the history of the space program. [To play this clip, click on “Mercury & Gemini” and then “JFK’s ‘Moon’ Speech.”]

Date visited – 4/21/2004

http://www.spacesounds.com/missions/index.html

Reagan’s Speech – In this clip from his 1984 State of the Union Address, Reagan discusses his desire to create a “permanently-manned space station” in the near future. Although this speech did not directly affect any space mission, creating space stations is a very important part of the history of the space program. [To access this clip, click on “Space Exploration” and then “Space Station Speech.”]

Date visited – 4/21/2004

http://www.spacesounds.com/missions/index.html