Freestar experiment

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/freestar-experiment

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is Freestar experiment known for?Provided precise UV spectral irradiance measurements of stars
2. What is the experiment designation?Freestar (often referred to as a sounding rocket payload)
3. What is the primary scientific discipline?Stellar Astrophysics
4. How did the Freestar experiment help scientists learn about stars?By measuring the ultraviolet light, scientists could see the fingerprints of elements like hydrogen, helium, carbon, and oxygen, and learn about a star’s temperature, pressure, and winds.
5. Why did the Freestar experiment launch into space instead of on the ground?Earth’s atmosphere blocks most ultraviolet light, so launching the rocket above the atmosphere let the instrument see the clean UV light from stars without distortion.

Ultraviolet Spectroscopy: Analyzing ultraviolet light to determine the composition and physical properties of celestial objects.
Spectral Irradiance: The amount of radiant energy (light) per unit area per unit wavelength emitted by a source.
Stellar Atmosphere: The outer layers of a star, from which most of its light is emitted.
Sounding Rocket: Suborbital rockets used for scientific research, reaching altitudes above the dense atmosphere.