Leonardo on the ISS

Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519) was a Florentine artist. He was the first person to sketch a parachute, a helicopter, an aeroplane, a tank, a repeating rifle, swinging bridge, paddleboat and motorcar. Leonardo's fascination with machines probably began during his childhood. He knew that machines could save people time and effort.

ESA astronauts need your help to solve everyday problems on board the International Space Station (ISS) and therefore make their lives easier. The food and water supplies are normally stored in only one place of the ISS.

Preparation: To go from one end of the ISS to the other it takes the astronauts 20 minutes. The astronauts on board the ISS are floating in weightlessness.

Split the class into 4 groups. Each group will design a new machine to make the lives of the astronauts on board the ISS easier. The groups work on different machines that allow the astronauts to do the following things wherever they are and at any time of the day:

1. Get food
2. Get water
3. Take pictures
4. Wash their hands

Activity:

1. With the help of Leonardo’s inventors’ (toolbox) and your imagination, agree on the design of the machine,
2. Present your design in a nice and clear sketch
3. Present your invention to the rest of the class
4. Send us your ideas at ISSeducationteam@esa.int!

Conclusions:

Discuss in the classroom: Is it easy to design machines? Is it fun to be an inventor? Would you like to become one? Which new inventions do you like the most? What do you think needs to be invented soon?