Learning Targets
- Understand the Rocket Launch Pad Design Challenge brief.
- Identify the problem, criteria, and constraints before brainstorming.
- Create an individual concept before combining ideas into one team concept.
IED Unit 0 • Lesson 0.7
Rocket Launch Pad Design Challenge Launch
Focus Question: How can a launch pad design support a rocket safely and effectively?
Mission Briefing
Today’s Plan
Move from a design brief to individual concepts and one shared team direction.
Learning Targets
Success Looks Like…
The team concept combines useful features from multiple individual ideas and addresses the challenge requirements.
Core habit: Generate individually first, then combine features rather than simply choosing one person’s idea.
Opening prompt
Challenge brief
Launch-pad examples
Define requirements
Individual sketch
Combine concepts
Exit
Opening Prompt
What does a launch pad need to do?
Look past appearance and identify functions: support, stability, access, alignment, protection, and organization.
Quick class share: Name one launch-pad feature and explain the need it serves.
Reveal the challenge mindset
Research is useful when you connect a feature to its function.
Do not copy a real launch pad at full complexity. Adapt useful ideas to the classroom challenge.
Challenge Brief
Design and build a launch pad
The first complete Unit 0 challenge begins here.
Your team will create a launch pad that:
Visual Research
Observe structure and function
Use the image to identify support, access, stability, and ground-system features.
Requirements
Keep the design target visible
Every concept should be checked against the same requirements.
Fit + Support
The provided rocket must sit securely.
Stability
The pad must stand without tipping or collapsing.
Realistic Features
Include features connected to launch-pad functions.
Materials
Use approved classroom materials; no custom 3D-printed parts.
Documentation
Use sketches, notes, tests, and explanations.
Concept Workflow
Individual ideas → shared team concept
Every student contributes before the team combines features.
Define
Review the problem, criteria, and constraints.
Brainstorm
Each student creates one individual concept sketch.
Combine
Blend useful features from multiple ideas into one team concept.
Scenario Response
How should the team choose a direction?
Vote before opening the answer.
Four students have different launch-pad concepts. One student wants the team to use only their sketch because it looks the most complete.
- AUse the most complete sketch without discussion.
- BVote immediately and discard the other ideas.
- CShare all sketches, identify useful features, and combine them into one team concept.
- DAsk the teacher to choose the design.
Reveal the strongest team process
Best answer: C
The team should combine useful features from multiple concepts. This increases participation and creates a design that can be justified against criteria and constraints.
Mission Debrief
What You Submit
Move from individual thinking to a documented shared concept.
Launch Pad Concept Evidence
Lesson 0.8
Launch Pad Build Plan
Open Lesson 0.8Resources
Lesson 0.7 Resources
Use only the files and references that support today’s work.
Tour of Artemis Launch Pad 39B
Look for structures that support, protect, access, and organize a launch vehicle.
Introduction to Engineering Design
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