Educator Guide: The Origami Satellite

Astronomy
Space
Tech

October 9, 2021

origami satellite james webb — Engineers work on the James Webb Space Telescope’s primary mirror. The 18 hexagonal mirror segments are made of lightweight yet tough beryllium and coated with a thin layer of gold to boost reflectivity.

Desiree Stover/NASA

About this guide

In this guide, students will learn about NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and discuss how scientific advances have shaped the telescope’s mission.

This Guide Includes:

Exercise type:Comprehension
Topic:Tech

Getting ready for lift-off

Students will answer questions about the online Science News article “When James Webb launches, it will have a bigger to-do list than 1980s researchers suspected,” which details the long journey of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to make it into space to explore other galaxies. A version of the story, “The origami satellite,” appears in the October 9, 2021 & October 23, 2021 issue of Science News.

Exercise type:Discussion
Topic:Astronomy

Unlocking universal questions

Students will discuss the mission of the James Webb Space Telescope and explore how scientific discoveries over the last few decades have shaped the telescope’s to-do list.