Programs

When Richard Garriott is in space, he plans to take photographs of the Earth, many of which will replicate some of the photographs his father, astronaut Dr. Owen Garriott took 35 years ago on Skylab. Looking at astronaut photography over time, we can see changes that have happened on Earth over the last generation. We can use this information to see how humans have impacted different regions on the planet over time and to make predictions about what may occur in the future.

This project adds student targets to Richard's list from Challenger Learning Centers. Students choose a target that shows how well we are taking care of our planet over the next generation, looking 35 years into the future. For more information, visit the Earth Science Challenge.

 

Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis, MO

Mrs. Hick’s 4th grade class, Greenville Elementary, Greenville, IL

Target: New Orleans, LA

Latitude: 29.96 N

Longitude: -90.22 W

Objective: Looking for city growth and rebuilding efforts from Hurricane Katrina

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Challenger Learning Center, Chabot Space & Science Center, Oakland, CA

Galaxy Explorers Teen Volunteer and Internship Program, Environmental Team

Target: Devil’s Side, California

Latitude: 122°31'W

Longitude: 37°34'5"N

Description: Devil's Slide is a coastal promontory in California, USA. It lies on the San Mateo County's coastline between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco.  A stretch of California’s famous Highway 1 runs through Devil’s Slide, but due to the steep cliff’s this area has suffered many landslides and much erosion throughout the years causing the road to be closed on several occasions.  It had been proposed to reroute Highway 1 inland over Montara Mountain, known as the Martini Creek Bypass, but due to environmental concerns the public stopped it.  In 1996 San Mateo County voters finally passed Measure T that allowed for the construction of a bypass tunnel that would have less of an environmental impact in the area.  Several rare and endangered species, including the Peregrine Falcon, the Mission Blue Butterfly, the San Bruno Elfin Butterfly, the San Francisco Garter Snake, and the California Red-Legged Frog live in the area of construction.

Objective: We would like to observe Devil’s Slide area today and again in the future to compare the natural affects of erosion and landslide of this dynamic area.  We would also like to analyze any impacts that the new bypass may have along the new route including; impact on vegetation due to car runoff and exhaust and increased construction.  We would also like to observe any re-vegetation along the old Hwy 1 stretch.

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Challenger Learning Center at the Ontario Science Centre, Toronto, Canada

Science School, Grade 12 science students

Target: Athabasca Oil Sand, Northern Alberta, Canada

Latitude: 56N

Longitude: 111W

Objective: To observe the huge environmental impacts of the oil sands project.

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Challenger Learning Center of Dayton, Dayton, OH

Loos Elementary School, Dayton, Ohio, Grade 6
Teacher - Dorothy Bostic Williams
Student - Elijah Blackwell, Leader Class Project

Target: Louisiana Coastline, Gulf of Mexico

Latitude: 29.58 N

Longitude: 90.07 W

Objective: To spotlight an area that was almost destroyed and to ensure that future properties and people will be properly protected under law. The extreme flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina and Rita caused much concern throughout the world. Many lives were lost as result. What can be done to protect the people from future storms? The levees broke and did not protect the people. Why? It is our concern that studies and observations be made to answer these questions.

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Challenger Learning Center, National Space Centre, UK

Target: Veligandu and surrounding Islands, Maldives

Latitude: 4.1 N

Longitude: 73.3 E

Objective: These are truly beautiful islands that are disappearing with rising Sea levels. This is a desperate situation for the people who have been living on the Islands for many years. For future reference it would be interesting to see how quickly the Islands are disappearing, and maybe use this troubling evidence to help us in the fight against Global warming/Climate change.

Target: Palm Island, Dubai

Latitude: 25.3 N

Longitude: 55.3 E

Objective: This is a fascinating project that has been photographed before. However, it has been discovered that this project hopes to attract up to ten million more visitors before 2010!! This would mean a dramatic change to the coastline in order to be able to accommodate such numbers. A photo taken in the dark, showing the lights in developed areas would be especially interesting. The downside to this would be the adverse affect that this would have on the coastline, and the wildlife, both on land and under the Sea. Dubai has a rich marine life and it would be interesting, and beneficial to see the effects of this tourism in the area.