Lesson 2.2

Why rockets curve sideways

Watch any launch and the rocket starts tipping over in the first minute. Nothing has gone wrong. Reaching orbit takes sideways speed, and a lot of it.

Three things to remember

Height alone is not orbit. A rocket that only goes up comes straight back down.
Orbit means moving sideways at about 17,500 miles per hour, fast enough to keep missing the Earth.
Tipping over early is called a gravity turn. It lets gravity help bend the path instead of fighting it.

Course content

Week 1: Lift off5 of 5 done, 56 min

What a rocket has to beatVideo, 7 min, done
Push back to go upAnimation, 8 min, done
Why rockets drop their stagesVideo, 6 min, done
Balloon rocket on a stringBuild, 25 min, done
Week 1 quizQuiz, 10 min, done

Week 2: Stay in orbit1 of 5 done, 54 min

Falling without landingInteractive, 7 min, done
Why rockets curve sidewaysVideo, 8 min
The road to Mars is an ovalVideo, 9 min, opens later
Orbits on a stretched sheetBuild, 20 min, opens later
Week 2 quizQuiz, 10 min, opens later

Week 3: Land a robot0 of 5 done, 1 hr 3 min

Seven minutes with no helpVideo, 8 min, opens later
What a rover carriesReading, 7 min, opens later
Wheels, power and dustVideo, 8 min, opens later
Egg-drop landerBuild, 30 min, opens later
Week 3 quizQuiz, 10 min, opens later

Week 4: Let it think0 of 5 done, 59 min

Why nobody drives a rover with a joystickVideo, 7 min, opens later
How a rover sees rocksVideo, 8 min, opens later
Teaching a machine with examplesVideo, 9 min, opens later
Train a rock sorterBuild, 25 min, opens later
Week 4 quizQuiz, 10 min, opens later

Week 5: Your mission0 of 3 done, 2 hr 14 min

How mission teams planVideo, 8 min, opens later
Present like an engineerVideo, 6 min, opens later
Design your Mars missionFinal project, 2 hr, opens later