Sustentabiblidade no espaço: um olhar educativo sobre detritos espaciais na Educação Básica

Abstract

Advances in science and technology in recent decades have significantly transformed the planet, with significant impacts including on the space environment where space debris resides—objects (satellites and spacecraft) produced and launched into various orbits that no longer serve any useful function. This problem manifests itself both in the accumulation of waste in terrestrial environments and in space, in the latter through debris from artificial satellites and decommissioned equipment orbiting planet Earth. Given this scenario, it is essential to rethink production and consumption practices with a view to sustainability and environmental preservation. Therefore, this problem gains greater dimension when space debris (space junk) is included. In this context, the search for an alternative way to understand and interact with nature is vital, and by encompassing this analysis, it is possible to include the entire Earth's orbital space in the discussion, seeking more sustainable ways to utilize it. In this work, we produced teaching materials addressing the topic of space debris to mediate the teaching and learning process on the sustainability of the space environment, focusing on astronomy. Methodologically, we developed descriptive and exploratory research with a qualitative approach, based on a literature review and a field study conducted with ten teachers of Natural Sciences, Physics, Mathematics, and Geography from the final years of elementary school and high school who make up the teaching staff of Colégio Estadual de Tempo Integral Assis Chateaubriand (CETIAC). Therefore, this research aims to present the topic of the space environment in line with sustainability, understanding that, today, society is marked by the need to develop an integrated perspective on these issues, prioritized by the pursuit of in-depth knowledge and specialization in these topics. In this context, space debris is addressed from a Basic Education perspective, through the development of the following educational product: a teaching guide for the workshops held at CETIAC. This material aims to support and guide Basic Education teachers in developing pedagogical practices that allow them to meaningfully address Astronomy content, with an emphasis on Space Debris. The focus is on the final years of Elementary School, valuing an interdisciplinary approach that fosters critical thinking, scientific curiosity, and reflection on environmental impacts on the planet and its orbital space. We also include the topic of International Space Law in Basic Education, which can be an interesting way to spark students' interest in science, technology, and law.