Let's Talk Lunar Resources
Astronauts from the Apollo Mission landing on the moon.
Astronauts from the Apollo Mission landing on the moon.
How does this align with my curriculum?
Discover some background information on how we'll learn to live and work on the Moon - and beyond!
In one sense, lunar exploration fires the human imagination for the same reason that people climb mountains: because it's there. The moon, shining above us at night and shifting in its phases, has often been a source of wonder and mystery for people throughout our history. In a more practical sense, however, we look toward lunar exploration to help us work through and solve the knotty problems we face on Earth. The Apollo Program, which landed astronauts on the moon for the first time on July 31st, 1969, was a major leap forward for human space exploration. It also provided a number of technological breakthroughs which would have an impact on all sorts of areas. The moon boot that the astronauts wore became, in time, the cushioning soles of the athletic footwear in use today. Spacesuit fabric design was eventually used to design retractable dome roofing in many sports stadiums. Items like cordless power tools, wearable heart monitors, and solar panels were also spun off of technology that NASA developed for the moon landing.
Moving forward to today, we have made incredible strides towards further exploring our solar system. We have flown by many of the planets in the system, landed spacecraft on comets and asteroids, and are busy planning out the details on sending astronauts to land on Mars. The International Space Station, first launched in 1998 and now comprised of fifteen pressurised modules, is a peak in human ingenuity and engineering. Space exploration, especially lunar exploration, has spurred us to ever-greater scientific heights.
Let's Talk Science's symposiums, Let's Talk Lunar: Why The Moon? and Let’s Talk Lunar: Exploring the Moon People, Technology and Ethics for a New Frontier focus on how space science, driven by lunar exploration among other things, gives rise to exploration of challenges here on Earth as well. Below are a set of thematically grouped resources to give you some background information on the breakthroughs and issues that arise from our exploration of space, as well as an exploration of some of the careers that center on space science and exploration.
Clips from Let's Talk Lunar
Tim Haltigin
Anastasiia Prysyazhnyuk
Nadeem Ghafoor
Let's Talk Lunar - Full Panel Discussion
Living In Space
What's it like to live in space? Check out these resources to find out!
Humidity on Earth and on the ISS
Humidity is an important part of life on Earth and life in space. This backgrounder explains what humidity is, how it is measured and how it affects us both mentally and physically.
Temperature on Earth and on the ISS
Temperature is an important part of life on Earth and life in space. This backgrounder explains what temperature is, how it affects people and how it is controlled on the International Space Station.
Carbon Dioxide on Earth and on the ISS
Carbon dioxide is an important part of the air on Earth and in space. What is carbon dioxide? How is it measured? How can it affect us mentally and physically?
Radiation and Human Space Exploration
One of the greatest hazards that humans in space face is cosmic radiation. Learn what cosmic radiation is, why it's dangerous, and ways that we are looking at protecting humans in deep space.
Why a Trip to Outer Space Could Be Bad for Your Bones
Astronauts can experience bone loss in space. To understand why, you need to know a bit about how bones are formed and maintained in your body.
Spaceflight and Bone Loss
Astronauts can experience bone loss in space. To understand why, you need to know a bit about how bones are formed and maintained in your body.
Three ongoing projects from Let's Talk Science also touch on life in space! Whether it's growing food, maintaining a clean indoor atmosphere, or getting students involved in visualizing their future in space, there's a lot to get into.
Tomatosphere™
Through Tomatosphere™, your students will investigate the effects of outer space on the germination of tomato seeds. This is a hands-on program that builds scientific inquiry and experimentation skills.
Living Space
Students will measure environmental conditions such as temperature, CO2, and relative humidity in their classroom and submit the data to a national database.
Send a Postcard to Space
Send a postcard to space and back thanks to a partnership with Club for the Future. The Club’s mission is to inspire students to pursue careers in STEM and help visualize the future of life in space. This page describes the project and how to get your postcards to space.
Exploration of the Solar System
Since we first launched objects into orbit in the 1950s we have made great strides in exploring the solar system that we call home. Below are some resources on what we've discovered through that exploration.
Meteoroids, Meteors and Meteorites
Learn about where and when to find meteoroids, meteors and meteorites.
Exploration of the Planets in the Solar System
Learn about how spacecraft have helped us learn about our Solar System.
Meet Our Dwarf Planets
Learn about the dwarf planets in our Solar System.
The Inner Solar System
Earth is covered in rocks. So are Mercury, Venus, Mars and the Moon. Does that mean the rocky planets are all the same?
The Outer Solar System
Learn about the amazing planets and moons of the outer Solar System.
Where Can We Find Asteroids and Comets?
This backgrounder explains the difference between planets, dwarf planets and small solar system bodies, such as asteroids and comets.
Check out these resources provided from the Canadian Space Agency as well!
Objective: Moon
Curriculum-based activities, information on the Moon for educators and youth, the Moon from an Indigenous perspective, funding opportunities.
Astronomy
Learn the basics, get some tips and tricks, discover space telescopes, and journey around the solar system!
Moon Exploration
Nearly 400,000 km away from our planet, the Moon represents a crucial stepping stone in humanity's quest to travel onwards to Mars.
Canada's Involvement In Moon Exploration
Canada has officially announced its participation in the exciting next chapter of Moon exploration
Getting There: The Science of Spaceflight
The ways and means by which human beings lift themselves out of the confines of gravity and into the swelling expanse of outer space are fascinating! Below are some resources on the science that we use to get ourselves into orbit and beyond.
Resources on Physics and Aerospace
Resource page including articles and career profiles related to physics and aerospace.
Cosmic Radiation and Aviation
Learn how people came to understand the source of cosmic radiation, as well as how this radiation impacts those who work in and travel on airplanes.
From Sky to Space
Canadian astronauts Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques explain how learning to fly an aircraft prepared them for the challenges of living in space.
AI & Ethics In Space:
The adjustment to living and working in space will entail a lot of work with artificial intelligence. AI will likely automate many of the menial tasks involved with daily human life. The ethics of this situation will involve a lively debate, one which could have far-reaching consequences with how we live and work on Earth as well. Below are some resources that examine the intersection between AI and ethics.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Learn about the fast-moving field of artificial intelligence and what it means in your life.
AI and Human-Computer Communication
Learn about how artificial intelligence and machine learning help us communicate with computers.
Digital Citizenship & Ethics
Digital citizenship is about thinking critically, behaving safely, and participating responsibly and ethically in the digital world.
Engineering Above: The Technology of Space
As mentioned in the introduction, space exploration has led to great advances in the technology we use not only for space exploration but also for life on Earth. Below are some resources on the kinds of engineering problems and solutions developed for making our way through the cosmos.
Testing Spacesuit Material
Learn about a new material for spacesuits and the engineer who designed it.
Space Junk
Litter isn't just a problem on Earth. When litter ends up in space, it can cause collisions and other consequences for satellites, the International Space Station and even for people on Earth!
Testing Parachutes for Mars
NASA engineers apply kinematics and dynamics to test parachutes designed specifically to help space probes land safely using aerodynamics.
Cosmic Science: To the Moon and Beyond!
From the Moon, to the inner and outer solar system, and beyond into deep space: humans have been probing the depths of the unknown for decades. Below are some resources on space science beyond the boundaries of human existence.
What are Cosmic Rays?
This backgrounder has information about both cosmic & neutron radiation.
The Life and Death of Stars
The life and death of stars form the chemical elements that make up Earth, making stars critical to life as we know it.
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence - and How You Can Help!
When astronomers search for extraterrestrial life, they often have to listen for radio waves coming from deep space. If you’re interested, you can help!
Careers In Space
What about the people who make a living driving forward the limits of human exploration? Below are some resources from the Canadian Space Agency on careers in space, as well as some profiles from Let's Talk Science of the people whose careers take them to the edge of the human imagination.
Types of Careers in the Space Industry
Careers, jobs and internships at the Canadian Space Agency and grants for universities and industry.
Career profiles of Indigenous people working in a space-related field
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) recognizes that there are different ways of knowing. It acknowledges the many contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to the field of space and to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
