Hands-on Activities and Make-Your-Own Models

Space Education (An apple surrounded by Saturn's rings) — Space Education

Here are some coloring pages of radioisotope-powered spacecraft for you to download, print, and color:

Apollo - astronauts used radioisotope thermoelectric generators to power experiments on the surface of the moon

Mars Curiosity Rover - exploring the surface of Mars

Dragonfly - a planned future mission to Saturn's largest moon, Titan

Here are some 3D models and some fun hands-on activities that show when, where, and how NASA uses radioisotope power to enable spacecraft to explore the solar system.

Cardboard MMRTG model — Make your own cardboard MMRTG model

You can build your own cardboard model of a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator, the power supply for the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers on Mars. The building instructions can be found here: Make Your Own MMRTG

If you have access to a 3D printer, you can print your own Voyager 1 and 2 models.

You can 3D print the RPS-powered Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft. Download the 3D printing file.

Cassini_spacecraft_model — If you have access to a 3D printer, you can print your own Cassini spacecraft model.

You can 3D print the RPS-powered Cassini spacecraft that orbited Saturn for 13 years. Download the 3D printing file.

Mars Curiosity Rover model — If you have access to a 3D printer, you can print your own Mars Curiosity Rover

You can 3D print the RPS-powered Mars Curiosity Rover. Download the 3D printing file.

New Horizons 3D printed model — If you have access to a 3D printer, you can print your own New Horizons spacecraft model

You can 3D print the RPS-powered New Horizons spacecraft that flew by Pluto. Download the 3D printing file.

Girl drawing a planet with sidewalk chalk — Students of all ages can learn about the distances of the planets in our solar system and when NASA needs each type of power system to explore.

COMING SOON: Make a chalk drawing of the solar system on your sidewalk, and learn about the RPS-powered NASA missions that have explored each planet.