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Author: Jessica Sain

Co-Author: Rachel Power

Illustrator: Cindy Bush
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On a Friday morning in Cocoa Beach, Florida, Mr. Armstrong’s classroom  was getting ready for their daily story time. They sat on the carpet, waiting 

to hear more about the thrilling new book their classmate brought to share. 

As Mr. Armstrong began introducing the exciting book, a rumbling and roaring 

noise grew louder and louder outside. It felt like the whole classroom was shaking. 

Orion pointed to the window and shouted, “Look, Mr. Armstrong! The window 

is rattling! What is going on?!” 
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Mr. Armstrong smiled and quickly gathered his students around the window,  where he pointed to an object near the clouds. The object had left a trail 

of fire and smoke as it raced toward the sky. 

Mr. Armstrong explained “That noise is coming from NASA’s Commercial Crew 

Program rocket launch! Astronauts are headed to do very important science experiments 

on the International Space Station. Our windows are rattling, or vibrating, because the 

sound from the rocket is so loud, it’s reaching as far as our classroom! The vibrations 

are caused by the sound moving through the floor, walls and windows.”
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As the students watched in amazement at the rocket taking NASA astronauts to the  space station, Stella looked at Mr. Armstrong and exclaimed, “This is the coolest 

thing I have ever seen! Can we sit here and watch the next one?” 

Mr. Armstrong responded, “Commercial Crew will not launch another rocket again 

until next month. Even though we can’t see another launch today, I think this would 

be a great time to learn about sound vibrations so that we are ready for the next one.” 
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The students returned to their seats and listened to Mr. Armstrong explain their new design challenge. They love new challenges because they get to 

work together to solve a problem. Mr. Armstrong asked, “Does anyone remember 

what caused the windows to vibrate?” 

Aurora raised her hand and correctly answered that sound made those vibrations. 

When Mr. Armstrong asked if anything else makes sound, Stella paused from 

drumming on her desk, and added, “Musical instruments do!” 

Mr. Armstrong smiled. “Exactly! Today, you will work in groups to design 

an instrument that shows sound moving with vibrations.” 
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The classroom hummed with ideas. Each group brainstormed designs for their instrument, and predicted how they might sound. Mr. Armstrong reminded 

the students they could use any of the items in the classroom makerspace, a place 

where the students collected old items that could be reused to create something new. 

The students worked together in harmony to plan, build and test their 

instrument ideas. Some of the designs didn’t work at first, but the students 

didn’t give up! Soon, each group was ready to present an idea to the classroom, 

and they were all excited to find out what the others had done. 
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Aurora quickly volunteered her group as the first to show the class their new kazoos,  which were each made with a toilet paper roll that had a piece of wax paper 

rubber banded to the end. When they blew air into the rolls, the wax paper buzzed 

and vibrated. 

Orion’s table shared their new guitar that they made out of an old tissue paper box 

with rubber bands wrapped around the sides. When one of the students plucked 

the rubber band, it made a thumping noise and also vibrated!
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eo and Stella were in the last group to share, but when they all stood, they were 

 empty-handed. The other students looked around, confused. Aurora asked, 

“Where is your instrument? Were you listening to Mr. Armstrong’s directions? 

You have to have one!” 

Leo gave a signal to his group. They all started humming and placed their hands over 

their own throats. Leo stopped to explain to Aurora that they do have an instrument... 

their voices. Mr. Armstrong smiled and said, “That’s right, Leo! Our voices carry 

sound and we can feel the vibration on our throat. Let’s all try it!” The whole 

classroom began to hum.
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All of the group members looked at each other, then at Mr. Armstrong, hoping A that he would choose their design. fter each group shared their instruments, Aurora raised her hand and asked, 

 “Mr. Armstrong, which group designed the best instrument?” 
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nstead, Mr. Armstrong said, “That’s the funny thing about design challenges...

 you all designed the best version of your idea! For these challenges, there isn’t 

just one right answer. You can solve problems in many different ways and still 

reach a common goal.”

Orion spoke up. “I never thought of that, Mr. Armstrong, but you’re right! We all 

found a different way to show sound through vibrations. That means we all solved 

the problem in our own way. I’d say that was a success!” 
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LAUNCH -15:32

A month later, Mr. Armstrong’s class anxiously awaited the next Commercial Crew  spacecraft launch. Some students watched the countdown on the classroom TV, 

while others gathered at the window, waiting to see the rocket lift off in the distance. 

Aurora noticed some differences between the spacecraft on TV and the one 

from the last launch, and asked, “Mr. Armstrong, why does this rocket look 

different from the one we saw a month ago?” 
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Mr. Armstrong explained, “NASA’s Commercial Crew Program works with  two different companies designing two different spacecraft to take astronauts 

safely to the space station. Just like the two companies working with NASA, you all 

designed different objects to do the same thing last month, do you remember?”

Leo spoke up. “I do! I do! We all designed instruments that showed sound through 

vibration, and even though our groups made different designs, we were all right!” 
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Orion looked out the window, then back to Mr. Armstrong and asked, “Do you  think we can be astronauts when we grow up?” 

With a smile, Mr. Armstrong explained, “NASA is working hard to make sure 

more students your age can grow up and become astronauts, engineers, and scientists. 

You have to remember to always try your best in school and, when you grow up, 

choose a job that you will love. With hard work, one day you may be on your 

way to the space station too! You all are the Astro-Not-Yets!”
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Suddenly the countdown began on the TV, but everyone looked out  the window instead. 

The students counted along with “10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... 

LIFTOFF!” Seconds later, the rumbling noise made the windows vibrate, once again, 

as the Commercial Crew rocket raced toward the stars. 
Explore activities with sound and learn more 

about NASA’s Commercial Crew Program at 

www.nasa.gov/stem/ccp