Aeronaut-X Educator: X-Planes to Spaceflight

Issued by Texas State University Continuing Education

Over the next several years, NASA scientists and engineers will be developing new experimental (X) aircraft, including one that may eventually make supersonic flight over land possible by reducing the loud sonic boom to a “gentle thump” (NASA Low-Boom Flight Demonstration, 2018). This latest X-plane builds on NASA’s soaring legacy of aeronautical innovation, which has made countless contributions to civilian and military aircraft. Estimated Time to Complete 7 hours.

Type Learning
Level Foundational
Time Hours
Cost Free

Additional Details

Skills

Earning Criteria

(1) Learn more information about NASA’s X-plane programs and the critical role these projects have played in the development of America’s manned spaceflight program. (2) Gain content knowledge on the properties of sound, principles of flight, and how engineers apply these concepts to vehicle design. (3) Explore hands-on instructional activities for any grade level that relate properties of sound and flight, engineering design, and culturally relevant teaching (CRT) practices.

Standards

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

HS-PS4-1 Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media. HS-ESS3-6 Human Impacts Use a computational representation to illustrate the relationships among Earth systems. MS-ETS1-1 Engineering Design