Listing all results (885)
Instrument field trials
Professor Andrew Coates and Dr Ian Hutchinson explain how the ExoMars instruments, the Pancam and Raman spectroscopy instruments can be combined to help scientists identify areas of interest on the surface of Mars. The video shows how field trips are important to learn first-hand the challenges that the ExoMars...
PanCam engineering
Mechanical engineer, Tom Hunt, shows how precision machines are used to produce the PanCam instrument, which will be sent to the European Space Agency to be integrated on to the ExoMars rover. Electronics engineer, Barry Hancock, shows the filter wheel being tested within the labs, at the Mullard Space Science...
Atacama Desert
Astrobiologist Dr. Lewis Dartnell talks from the Atacama Desert about a research trip to find extremophiles that might give scientists some clues as to the kind of life that may exist on the surface of Mars. Lewis shows how quartz can act as a natural sunscreen to enable cyanobacteria to grow in the dry desert...
Autonomous navigation
Dr. Mark Woods explains how the rover technologies must be partly autonomous, since the signals from Earth to Mars take too long for every command to be send from Earth. The technologies developed for space, also have applications on Earth.
This video is part of a series of ten which look at the one of the...
Why we explore
Planetary scientist, Professor Andrew Coates, explains why scientists look for the evidence of signs of past life on Mars. He talks about the history of Mars and the current harsh environment on the planet. This video is part of a series of ten which look at the one of the elements of the European Space Agency’s...
Acceleration
Students often find it difficult to understand the related concepts of acceleration and speed. Making use of the BBC micro:bit on-board accelerometer, this playful activity allows students to get an intuitive understanding through hands-on activity.
The simple game requires that students maintain...
Collaborative science
Professor Sanjeev Gupta explains how scientists from many different disciplines have been brought together for the European Space Agency Aurora programme. Scientists and engineers also speak about how exciting it is to be working on a search for life on other planets.
This video is part of a series of ten...
Landing sites
Planetary scientists, Dr. Matthew Balme and Dr. Elliot Sefton-Nash, talk about how challenging it is to find a scientifically compelling site to land in, once the engineering considerations in terms of the landing has been taken into account.
This video is part of a series of ten which look at the one of the...
Raman spectroscopy
Dr. Lewis Dartnell takes a sample from the Atacama desert, to the Open University, to be analysed by a Raman spectrometer. The spectrometer shows the organic compounds that Lewis found on the quartz, as well as the composition of the quartz itself.
This video is part of a series of ten which look at the one...
The STFC Lunar Rocks and Meteorites Loan Scheme has been running since the mid 1980s. It has lent the NASA Moon rock discs and meteorites to thousands of schools, museums and outreach organisers. The collection has been produced by the ASE with the University of Manchester, Millgate House Education, the Natural...