Apps to Help Students Experience the Realities of Space
I am a very visual learner and find these apps very helpful in experience the realities of space. I would love to hear what you think of them especially as tools for students.
1- Spacecraft 3D
NASA’s Spacecraft 3D is an augmented reality (AR) application that lets you learn about an
d interact with a variety of spacecraft that are used to explore our solar system, study Earth, and observe the universe. Using a printed AR Target and the camera on your mobile device, you can get up close with these robotic explorers, see how they move, and learn about the engineering feats used to expand our knowledge and understanding of space.
2- Moon Tours
Moon Tours is the mobile version of the NASA’s Lunar Mapping and Modeling Portal (LMMP). LMMP is the repository for over 600+ geospatial lunar data products and imagery focusing primarily on the 50 “sites of interest” that were selected as possible landing sites for future lunar missions. These data products include scientifically referenced digital elevation maps (DEMs), slope maps, rock and hazard maps, mineralogy maps, and imagery from the Apollo missions to the latest data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).
3- 3D Sun
“3D Sun” lets you carry a virtual window onto today’s sun, right in your pocket. Open this app anytime to see what’s happening today on the sun’s ever-changing surface. See when major solar flares erupt on the sun’s surface. Track sunspots that reveal the churning activity inside the sun’s fiery inferno.
4- NASA Lunar Electric Rover Simulator
Welcome to the NASA Lunar Electric Rover (LER) Simulator. You don’t need a driver’s license, but you still need to buckle up as the LER Simulator gives you a glimpse of what it might be like to support the activities of a functioning Lunar Outpost.
5- Images of Change
Natural disasters, a warming climate, and human activities are rapidly altering the face of our planet. NASA’s Images of Change app lets you take a close-up view of many of these changes in an exciting and hands-on format. The app presents a curated collection of the best image pairs from NASA’s Global Climate Change website. These image pairs show areas that have been subject to natural disasters or seen significant change over time.
6- NASA App
Come explore with NASA and discover the latest images, videos, mission information, news, feature stories, tweets, NASA TV and featured content with the NASA App for iOS.
Dr. Beth Bos
Associate Professor, MSI TEN Faculty
Texas State University