Papercraft satellites

This activity has been designed to help pupils understand the different applications of satellites in the field of Earth observation. Scientists use the data collected by these satellites to monitor changes in environments across the planet.

There are three satellites that pupils can build:

• Aeolus was a satellite that measured wind speeds around the planet. This data has been used to improve weather forecasts and climate models across the world. It came to the end of its life in 2023.
• Sentinel-6 is a satellite currently in orbit that records data about sea levels and the height of waves across the ocean. This data gives us information about how the sea level is changing due to climate change, and will continue to do so until at least 2030.
• Biomass will launch in 2024 and will use radar technology to record data about forests around the world. This radar technology allows it to be the first satellite that can record data about the trees below the top layer of tree cover. This will also help us to paint a picture of how deforestation is affecting climate patterns around the world.

Each satellite not only records very different data that is used in different areas of research around the world, but they also look incredibly different to one another. By making each model, pupils will gain insight into the range of applications of satellites, and understand that they have limited life cycles.

We recommend this activity for ages 7 to 12. Pupils will need to use fine motor skills to fold and stick the satellites together; they may find it useful to work with a partner to hold the satellite in place while they do this.

This resource was created as part of Protecting Our Planet Day (POP) 2023 to highlight the importance of satellites in the field of Earth observation, and in collecting data to help us monitor and address the effects of climate change across the world.