Program Information

This segment describes how Micro Air Vehicles might be used to conduct research.

NASA Kids Science News Network™ is a news-style standards-based program that uses the Web, animation, and video to introduce science, technology, engineering, math, and NASA concepts. NASA's KSNN™ uses animated characters (grades K-2) and Web and video technology (grades 3-5) to explain everyday phenomena of our world, correct misconceptions, and answer frequently asked questions.

Transcript

Hi, I'm Bianca with
more science news you can use.

Did you know NASA can build
planes as small as insects?

I hope those planes
are nicer to me
than this fly
bugging me right now.

(Bianca)
Careful, that may be a Micro Air
Vehicle you're swatting.

There's no way a real airplane
can be that small.

(Bianca)
NASA engineers are working
to make really small airplanes.

And they aren't toys.

They can do scientific work.

What can planes that small
do for us?

(Bianca)
Scientists could fly them
into areas they can't
easily travel to.

They can take pictures
and collect air samples.

They could even carry
infrared cameras
to help locate people
trapped in burning buildings.

(Grant)
Will toy stores ever sell
these kinds of planes?

The real ones
are too expensive,
but toy stores might be able
to sell toy models of them.

For more cool NASA facts,
visit our website.

Until next time,
I'm Bianca with cool
aeronautics news you can use.

Virginia Standards