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‘NASA STEM Stars’: Additive Manufacturing Engineer

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Susan Martinez holds a 3D printed pencil holder

Audience

Educators, Students

Grade Levels

Grades 5-8, Grades 9-12, Informal Education

Subject

Careers, Technology

Type

Hands-on Activities, Videos

NASA Role Models: Susan Martinez
NASA Center: Marshall Space Flight Center
Topic: Additive Manufacturing
Original Air Date: June 29, 2020

What would happen if an astronaut’s wrench broke on the way to the Moon? Thanks to research being done by the In-Space Manufacturing team at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, crews could replace that wrench using a 3D printer to make a new one. Watch Susan Martinez as she discusses how her work is used on the International Space Station to contribute to deep space exploration missions. At the end of this episode, Martinez will show you how make an origami space shuttle.

STEM Short Activity: Make Your Own Starshade
Objective: Learn about a solar sun shade and its importance, and then make an origami starshade.
Duration: 30 minutes for setup and to complete the origami
Difficulty: Easy

Next Generation Science Standards: MS-ESS1-1. MS-ETS1-1.

“NASA STEM Stars” is a webchat series. Each chat introduces a science, technology, engineering or math career, addresses a STEM topic and highlights a NASA mission. The chat includes a STEM activity that students can do at home. After the interviews, experts answer students’ questions.