Instructify

BY JASON DON FORSYTHE

The recent oil spill in the gulf reminds me of one of my dad’s favorite sayings: “Invest in your space program. Eventually we’re gonna need to get the heck out of here.” Well, since 1998 the governments of Russia, the United States, Japan, and several European nations have made a huge combined investment in the International Space Station. I had to admit, it’s been a while since I checked in on its progress, but the ISS has gone from something that looked like a big flashlight to a structure larger that a Boeing 767!

If you’re like me and haven’t signed up for the ISS’s RSS and kept regular tabs, then you and your class will really enjoy this slick flash video showing the history of the development of the ISS, compacting more than a decade of building into about two minutes. Be sure to click on each piece on the right side bar to get even more information and details about the ISS. This video would work extremely well as an introduction to a lesson plan about the ISS or perhaps even as a example of what humans can accomplish if we work together as a team and a global community.

International Space Station Comes Together via USA Today

Related stuff:

NASA TV: The view from up there, and more.

See the International Space Station from your front porch

Explore the Final Frontier with SETI@home and WorldWide Telescope