9 min read<\/p>\n
Launch Your Creativity with These Space Crafts!<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/intro-collage-image.png?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nIn honor of the completion of our Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope<\/a>\u2019s spacecraft<\/a> \u2014 the vehicle that will maneuver the observatory to its place in space and enable it to function once there \u2014 we\u2019re bringing you some space crafts you can complete at home!<\/p>\nJoin us for a journey across the cosmos, starting right in your own pantry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/slime-card.png?w=1800\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nStardust Slime<\/h2>\n
Did you know that most of your household ingredients are made of stardust? And so are you<\/a>! Nearly every naturally occurring element was forged by living or dying stars.\u00a0
Take the baking soda in this slime recipe, for example. It\u2019s made up of sodium, hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. The hydrogen was made during the big bang<\/a>, right at the start of the universe. But the other three elements were created by dying stars<\/a>. So when you show your friends your space-y slime, you can tell them it\u2019s literally made of stardust!<\/p>\nInstructions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- 1 5 oz. bottle clear glue<\/li>\n
- \u00bd tablespoon baking soda<\/li>\n
- food coloring<\/li>\n
- 1 tablespoon contact lens solution<\/li>\n
- 1 tablespoon glitter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Directions:<\/strong><\/p>\nPour the glue into a bowl<\/p>\n
Mix in the baking soda<\/p>\n
Add food coloring (we recommend blue, purple, black, or a combination). <\/p>\n
Add contact lens solution and use your hands to work it through the slime. It will initially be very sticky! You can add a little extra contact lens solution to make it firmer and less goopy. <\/p>\n
Add glitter a teaspoon at a time, using as much or as little as you like!<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/sucker-card.png?w=1800\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nSpace Suckers<\/h2>\n
Now let\u2019s travel a little farther, past Earth\u2019s atmosphere and into the realm of space. That\u2019s where Roman is headed once the whole observatory is complete and passes all of its testing!<\/p>\n
Roman will scan the skies from space to make it extra sensitive to faint infrared light<\/a>. It\u2019s harder to see from the ground because our atmosphere scatters and absorbs infrared radiation, which obscures observations.\u00a0
Some astronauts have reported that space smells metallic or like gunpowder<\/a>, but don\u2019t worry \u2014 you can choose a more pleasant flavor for your space suckers!<\/p>\nIngredients<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- 2 cups sugar<\/li>\n
- 2\/3 cup light corn syrup<\/li>\n
- 2\/3 cup water<\/li>\n
- gel food coloring<\/li>\n
- flavor oil<\/li>\n
- edible glitter dust<\/li>\n
- sucker sticks<\/li>\n
- sucker mold<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Directions<\/strong><\/p>\nPrep the molds by adding sucker sticks. <\/p>\n
Mix sugar, light corn syrup, and water together in a pot on the stove over medium heat. <\/p>\n
Turn it up to medium-high heat and let it boil without stirring for about 6 minutes. <\/p>\n
Quickly stir in the flavor oil of your choice, gel food coloring, plus as much edible glitter as you like (reserve some for dusting). <\/p>\n
Carefully but quickly spoon the mixture into the molds. Spin the sticks so they\u2019re evenly coated. Add a sprinkle of reserved edible glitter and allow to harden.\u201d An image on the left side of the card shows the result: a deep purple sucker with silver glitter embedded.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fizzy-planet-card.png?w=1800\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFizzy Planets<\/h2>\n
As we move toward our outer solar system, we\u2019ll pass the orbits of the gas giant planets Jupiter<\/a> and Saturn<\/a>. While they don\u2019t actually fizz like the mini planets you can make at home, they do have some pretty exotic chemistry that stems from their extreme pressures, temperatures, and compositions. For example, the hydrogen in their cores behaves like liquid metal instead of a gas. It even conducts electricity!<\/p>\nRoman will use multiple planet-spotting techniques \u2013\u2013 microlensing<\/a>, transits<\/a>, and direct imaging<\/a> \u2013\u2013 to help us study a variety of worlds, including both gas giants and rocky worlds similar to our own.<\/p>\nIngredients<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- 3 cups baking soda<\/li>\n
- \u00be cup water<\/li>\n
- food coloring<\/li>\n
- \u00bc cup vinegar<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Directions<\/strong><\/p>\nMix a few drops of food coloring into \u00bc cup of water and pour into a bowl with 1 cup of baking soda. <\/p>\n
Repeat step one two more times using different colors. <\/p>\n
Scoop together bits from each mixture to form small balls. Add an extra splash of water to any mixture that\u2019s too crumbly. <\/p>\n
Douse the balls with vinegar using an eye dropper or teaspoon and watch them fizz!<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/marshmallow-constellation-card-1.png?w=1800\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMarshmallow Constellations<\/h2>\n
As we venture farther out into space, we\u2019ll reach some familiar stars! Constellations<\/a> are groups of stars that appear close together in the sky as seen from Earth. But if you actually journeyed out to them, you might be surprised to discover that they\u2019re often super far apart from each other!<\/p>\nThough constellations aren\u2019t made of stars that are actually bound together in any way, they can still be useful for referencing a cosmic object\u2019s location in the sky. For example, you can use a pair of binoculars or a telescope to take a look at the nebula<\/a> found beneath Orion\u2019s Belt, marked by the glitter patch in the recipe card above! You can find the constellation printables here<\/a>.<\/p>\nSupplies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- toothpicks or mini pretzel sticks<\/li>\n
- mini marshmallows<\/li>\n
- constellation printables<\/li>\n
- scissors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Directions<\/strong><\/p>\nAttach marshmallows to toothpicks or pretzel sticks using the constellation cards as a guide. Carefully trim toothpicks or pretzel sticks as needed using scissors.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/bath-bomb-card.png?w=1800\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBlack Hole Bath Bombs<\/h2>\n
Black holes<\/a> \u2013\u2013 objects with such strong gravity that not even light can escape their clutches \u2013\u2013 lurk unseen throughout our galaxy. Stray too close to one and you\u2019re in for a wild ride<\/a>! But they aren\u2019t cosmic vacuum cleaners, despite what you may have grown to believe. Just keep your distance and they\u2019ll affect you the same way as any other object of the same mass.
Astronomers have found dozens of black holes in our galaxy by seeing how their gravity affects nearby objects. But there may be 100 million more<\/a> that lack a visible companion to signal their presence. Roman will find some of these solitary black holes by seeing how their gravity focuses the light from farther stars.<\/p>\nIngredients<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- 1 cup baking soda<\/li>\n
- \u00bd cup citric acid<\/li>\n
- \u00bd cup cornstarch<\/li>\n
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil<\/li>\n
- black food coloring<\/li>\n
- optional: 2 teaspoons essential oil for scent<\/li>\n
- optional: \u00bd cup Epsom salt<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Directions<\/strong><\/p>\nMix the baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch, and Epsom salt (optional) together in a bowl. <\/p>\n
In a separate bowl, mix the coconut oil, food coloring, and essential oil (optional). <\/p>\n
Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture slowly while whisking it all together. Add a couple tiny splashes of water and whisk it in quickly. <\/p>\n
Tightly press the mixture into round molds. Leave them for a few hours and then they\u2019ll be ready to use!<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/galaxy-jar-card.png?w=1800\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nGalaxy in a Jar<\/h2>\n
Now let\u2019s go so far we can see our Milky Way galaxy from the outside \u2014 something many astronomers probably wish they could do at times!\u00a0
Sort of like how Earth\u2019s atmosphere can affect our view of space, dust in our galaxy can get in the way, too. That makes it easier to study other galaxies than our own in some ways! Roman\u2019s combination of a large field of view, crisp resolution, and the ability to peer through dust make it the ideal instrument to study the Milky Way. The mission will build on previous observations to generate the most detailed map of our galaxy<\/a> to date.<\/p>\nIngredients<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- hot water<\/li>\n
- glitter glue<\/li>\n
- glitter<\/li>\n
- super glue (optional)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Directions<\/strong><\/p>\nMostly fill a 16 oz. glass jar with very hot water, leaving a couple inches of space at the top. <\/p>\n
Add at least \u00bc cup of glitter glue in colors of your choosing. <\/p>\n
Add loose glitter a couple of teaspoons at a time, using as much or as little as you like! You can use a combination of fine and chunky glitter for an extended swirling effect. <\/p>\n
Optional: Super glue the lid to the jar. <\/p>\n
Once the water has sufficiently cooled, give the jar a gentle shake to see your galaxy swirl! <\/p>\n
NOTE: <\/strong>Closely monitor children to ensure the jar doesn\u2019t break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pinwheel-card.png?w=1800\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPinwheel Galaxy Pinwheels<\/h2>\n
As we continue our cosmic excursion, you\u2019ll see other galaxies sprinkled throughout space. Many are spiral galaxies, like our Milky Way and the Pinwheel Galaxy<\/a> from the craft described above. (You can find more detailed instructions and the printout you\u2019ll need here<\/a>.)<\/p>\nBut galaxies come in other varieties<\/a>, too. Through Roman\u2019s wide, deep surveys, astronomers are sure to see every type. Scientists will study the shapes and distances of billions of galaxies to help us understand dark energy \u2014 a mysterious pressure that\u2019s speeding up the universe\u2019s expansion.\u00a0<\/p>\nSupplies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Pinwheel Galaxy printout<\/li>\n
- pipe cleaner or chopsticks<\/li>\n
- scissors<\/li>\n
- popsicle stick<\/li>\n
- single hole puncher<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Directions<\/strong><\/p>\nCut out the hexagonal shape for your galaxy pinwheel. <\/p>\n
Make cuts down the white lines. <\/p>\n
Punch holes in the white dots: six around the edges and one in the center. <\/p>\n
Turn the paper so it\u2019s face-down. <\/p>\n
Thread a pipe cleaner through the center hole. <\/p>\n
Going around the circle, fold each flap so the pipe cleaner goes through the hole. <\/p>\n
Tie a knot in the pipe cleaner to secure the front of the pinwheel. Wrap the other side of the pipe cleaner around a popsicle stick.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/universe-dough-card.png?w=1800\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nUniverse Dough<\/h2>\n
We\u2019re nearing the end of our voyage, having traveled so far through space and time that we can take in the whole universe! We\u2019ve learned a lot about it, but there are still plenty of open questions. Some of its biggest components, dark energy<\/a> and dark matter<\/a> (invisible matter seen only via its gravitational influence), are huge mysteries Roman will explore. And since the observatory will reveal such large, deep swaths of space, who knows what new puzzles we\u2019ll soon uncover!<\/p>\n\n- Ingredients<\/li>\n
- 1 cup flour<\/li>\n
- \u00bd cup salt<\/li>\n
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil<\/li>\n
- \u00bd cup hot water<\/li>\n
- food coloring<\/li>\n
- glitter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Directions<\/strong><\/p>\nMix flour and salt in a bowl. <\/p>\n
Add several drops of food coloring to hot water, and stir into dry mixture along with the oil. <\/p>\n
Add as much glitter as you like and knead it into the dough for several minutes. <\/p>\n
Add water or flour as needed to adjust the consistency.<\/p>\n
Still feeling crafty? <\/strong>Try your hand at these 3D and paper spacecraft models<\/a>. If you\u2019re eager for a more advanced space craft, check out these embroidery creations<\/a> for inspiration! Or if you\u2019re ready for a break, take a virtual tour of an interactive version of the Roman Space Telescope here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/intro-collage-image.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nIn honor of the completion of our Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope<\/a>\u2019s spacecraft<\/a> \u2014 the vehicle that will maneuver the observatory to its place in space and enable it to function once there \u2014 we\u2019re bringing you some space crafts you can complete at home!<\/p>\n Join us for a journey across the cosmos, starting right in your own pantry.\u00a0<\/p>\n Did you know that most of your household ingredients are made of stardust? And so are you<\/a>! Nearly every naturally occurring element was forged by living or dying stars.\u00a0 Instructions:<\/strong><\/p>\n Directions:<\/strong><\/p>\n Pour the glue into a bowl<\/p>\n Mix in the baking soda<\/p>\n Add food coloring (we recommend blue, purple, black, or a combination). <\/p>\n Add contact lens solution and use your hands to work it through the slime. It will initially be very sticky! You can add a little extra contact lens solution to make it firmer and less goopy. <\/p>\n Add glitter a teaspoon at a time, using as much or as little as you like!<\/p>\n Now let\u2019s travel a little farther, past Earth\u2019s atmosphere and into the realm of space. That\u2019s where Roman is headed once the whole observatory is complete and passes all of its testing!<\/p>\n Roman will scan the skies from space to make it extra sensitive to faint infrared light<\/a>. It\u2019s harder to see from the ground because our atmosphere scatters and absorbs infrared radiation, which obscures observations.\u00a0 Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n Directions<\/strong><\/p>\n Prep the molds by adding sucker sticks. <\/p>\n Mix sugar, light corn syrup, and water together in a pot on the stove over medium heat. <\/p>\n Turn it up to medium-high heat and let it boil without stirring for about 6 minutes. <\/p>\n Quickly stir in the flavor oil of your choice, gel food coloring, plus as much edible glitter as you like (reserve some for dusting). <\/p>\n Carefully but quickly spoon the mixture into the molds. Spin the sticks so they\u2019re evenly coated. Add a sprinkle of reserved edible glitter and allow to harden.\u201d An image on the left side of the card shows the result: a deep purple sucker with silver glitter embedded.<\/p>\n As we move toward our outer solar system, we\u2019ll pass the orbits of the gas giant planets Jupiter<\/a> and Saturn<\/a>. While they don\u2019t actually fizz like the mini planets you can make at home, they do have some pretty exotic chemistry that stems from their extreme pressures, temperatures, and compositions. For example, the hydrogen in their cores behaves like liquid metal instead of a gas. It even conducts electricity!<\/p>\n Roman will use multiple planet-spotting techniques \u2013\u2013 microlensing<\/a>, transits<\/a>, and direct imaging<\/a> \u2013\u2013 to help us study a variety of worlds, including both gas giants and rocky worlds similar to our own.<\/p>\n Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n Directions<\/strong><\/p>\n Mix a few drops of food coloring into \u00bc cup of water and pour into a bowl with 1 cup of baking soda. <\/p>\n Repeat step one two more times using different colors. <\/p>\n Scoop together bits from each mixture to form small balls. Add an extra splash of water to any mixture that\u2019s too crumbly. <\/p>\n Douse the balls with vinegar using an eye dropper or teaspoon and watch them fizz!<\/p>\n As we venture farther out into space, we\u2019ll reach some familiar stars! Constellations<\/a> are groups of stars that appear close together in the sky as seen from Earth. But if you actually journeyed out to them, you might be surprised to discover that they\u2019re often super far apart from each other!<\/p>\n Though constellations aren\u2019t made of stars that are actually bound together in any way, they can still be useful for referencing a cosmic object\u2019s location in the sky. For example, you can use a pair of binoculars or a telescope to take a look at the nebula<\/a> found beneath Orion\u2019s Belt, marked by the glitter patch in the recipe card above! You can find the constellation printables here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Supplies<\/strong><\/p>\n Directions<\/strong><\/p>\n Attach marshmallows to toothpicks or pretzel sticks using the constellation cards as a guide. Carefully trim toothpicks or pretzel sticks as needed using scissors.<\/p>\n Black holes<\/a> \u2013\u2013 objects with such strong gravity that not even light can escape their clutches \u2013\u2013 lurk unseen throughout our galaxy. Stray too close to one and you\u2019re in for a wild ride<\/a>! But they aren\u2019t cosmic vacuum cleaners, despite what you may have grown to believe. Just keep your distance and they\u2019ll affect you the same way as any other object of the same mass. Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n Directions<\/strong><\/p>\n Mix the baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch, and Epsom salt (optional) together in a bowl. <\/p>\n In a separate bowl, mix the coconut oil, food coloring, and essential oil (optional). <\/p>\n Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture slowly while whisking it all together. Add a couple tiny splashes of water and whisk it in quickly. <\/p>\n Tightly press the mixture into round molds. Leave them for a few hours and then they\u2019ll be ready to use!<\/p>\n Now let\u2019s go so far we can see our Milky Way galaxy from the outside \u2014 something many astronomers probably wish they could do at times!\u00a0 Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n Directions<\/strong><\/p>\n Mostly fill a 16 oz. glass jar with very hot water, leaving a couple inches of space at the top. <\/p>\n Add at least \u00bc cup of glitter glue in colors of your choosing. <\/p>\n Add loose glitter a couple of teaspoons at a time, using as much or as little as you like! You can use a combination of fine and chunky glitter for an extended swirling effect. <\/p>\n Optional: Super glue the lid to the jar. <\/p>\n Once the water has sufficiently cooled, give the jar a gentle shake to see your galaxy swirl! <\/p>\n NOTE: <\/strong>Closely monitor children to ensure the jar doesn\u2019t break.<\/p>\n As we continue our cosmic excursion, you\u2019ll see other galaxies sprinkled throughout space. Many are spiral galaxies, like our Milky Way and the Pinwheel Galaxy<\/a> from the craft described above. (You can find more detailed instructions and the printout you\u2019ll need here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n But galaxies come in other varieties<\/a>, too. Through Roman\u2019s wide, deep surveys, astronomers are sure to see every type. Scientists will study the shapes and distances of billions of galaxies to help us understand dark energy \u2014 a mysterious pressure that\u2019s speeding up the universe\u2019s expansion.\u00a0<\/p>\n Supplies<\/strong><\/p>\n Directions<\/strong><\/p>\n Cut out the hexagonal shape for your galaxy pinwheel. <\/p>\n Make cuts down the white lines. <\/p>\n Punch holes in the white dots: six around the edges and one in the center. <\/p>\n Turn the paper so it\u2019s face-down. <\/p>\n Thread a pipe cleaner through the center hole. <\/p>\n Going around the circle, fold each flap so the pipe cleaner goes through the hole. <\/p>\n Tie a knot in the pipe cleaner to secure the front of the pinwheel. Wrap the other side of the pipe cleaner around a popsicle stick.<\/p>\n We\u2019re nearing the end of our voyage, having traveled so far through space and time that we can take in the whole universe! We\u2019ve learned a lot about it, but there are still plenty of open questions. Some of its biggest components, dark energy<\/a> and dark matter<\/a> (invisible matter seen only via its gravitational influence), are huge mysteries Roman will explore. And since the observatory will reveal such large, deep swaths of space, who knows what new puzzles we\u2019ll soon uncover!<\/p>\n Directions<\/strong><\/p>\n Mix flour and salt in a bowl. <\/p>\n Add several drops of food coloring to hot water, and stir into dry mixture along with the oil. <\/p>\n Add as much glitter as you like and knead it into the dough for several minutes. <\/p>\n Add water or flour as needed to adjust the consistency.<\/p>\n Still feeling crafty? <\/strong>Try your hand at these 3D and paper spacecraft models<\/a>. If you\u2019re eager for a more advanced space craft, check out these embroidery creations<\/a> for inspiration! Or if you\u2019re ready for a break, take a virtual tour of an interactive version of the Roman Space Telescope here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nStardust Slime<\/h2>\n
Take the baking soda in this slime recipe, for example. It\u2019s made up of sodium, hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. The hydrogen was made during the big bang<\/a>, right at the start of the universe. But the other three elements were created by dying stars<\/a>. So when you show your friends your space-y slime, you can tell them it\u2019s literally made of stardust!<\/p>\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nSpace Suckers<\/h2>\n
Some astronauts have reported that space smells metallic or like gunpowder<\/a>, but don\u2019t worry \u2014 you can choose a more pleasant flavor for your space suckers!<\/p>\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFizzy Planets<\/h2>\n
\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMarshmallow Constellations<\/h2>\n
\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBlack Hole Bath Bombs<\/h2>\n
Astronomers have found dozens of black holes in our galaxy by seeing how their gravity affects nearby objects. But there may be 100 million more<\/a> that lack a visible companion to signal their presence. Roman will find some of these solitary black holes by seeing how their gravity focuses the light from farther stars.<\/p>\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nGalaxy in a Jar<\/h2>\n
Sort of like how Earth\u2019s atmosphere can affect our view of space, dust in our galaxy can get in the way, too. That makes it easier to study other galaxies than our own in some ways! Roman\u2019s combination of a large field of view, crisp resolution, and the ability to peer through dust make it the ideal instrument to study the Milky Way. The mission will build on previous observations to generate the most detailed map of our galaxy<\/a> to date.<\/p>\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPinwheel Galaxy Pinwheels<\/h2>\n
\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nUniverse Dough<\/h2>\n
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Share<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n