Mars Base Instruction Guide

People living on Mars?

Sounds like science fiction, but NASA wants to make it a reality. NASA has plans to send astronauts to Mars,
however right now they need your help! Before astronauts can live on Mars, NASA needs a design for an
astronaut base that can withstand the Martian environment. Although Mars is similar to Earth, there are some
very fundamental differences between the two planets. Therefore, the task of designing a Martian astronaut
base requires a lot more planning than just building a house on Earth. Are you up for the challenge?

Mars Base Requirements:

 Maximum size: 30cm x 30cm x 30cm

 Materials: your choice

 Hazard Tests – build your prototype to withstand the following tests:

o Dust Storm – don’t let the dust in!
o Temperature Differences – insulate from hot and cold temperature changes
o Meteoroid Impact – must survive a meteoroid shower

 Features to include:
o A door that opens and closes, showing the inside of the base and allowing “vehicles” to enter or
leave freely.
o A sturdy cardboard foundation (maximum size 40cm x 40cm). Your Mars Base Prototype
should be anchored firmly to the cardboard foundation.
o Open space inside the base. Astronauts need to live and work here. You will need to be able
to fit a thermometer inside .
o A name. Every good building needs a good name, especially if it is the first Martian astronaut
base!
o Creativity! Add whatever additional features you think you need to make your prototype look
like an astronaut base.
 Mars Base Instruction Guide

Prototype Design
Hazard Solutions Brainstorm
How will we protect our base from these hazards?

Dust
Storm

Temperature
Differences

Meteoroid
Impact

Master Material List

Prototype Design
Mars Base Sketch
What will our base look like? Draw it out, labeling the following:
door, foundation, astronaut work area (inside), hazard protection (label your design features that will
protect against each hazard)
 Mars Base Data Page

Temperature Difference

Room Temperature (°C)

Hot Wave Cold Flash

Initial Base Temperature (°C)

Temperature after test (°C)

Temperature change
(Initial Temperature – Temperature after test)

Dust Storm

Did dust enter the base _______ YES _______ NO

Where did the dust enter?

Meteoroid Impact

Damage Report
Small Meteoroids

Medium Meteoroids

Large Meteoroids
 Mars Base Analysis Worksheet

On a separate sheet of paper, write a report to answer all of the following questions about your Mars
Base prototype and the process that you used to test it.

1. Why did your group choose the plan that you chose to solve the hazards?

2. Specifically, how was your plan supposed to solve each problem?

3. What materials did you use for your prototype? Why did you choose those materials?

4. What challenges did you face in building your prototype?

5. How did the experiments simulate a Martian environment?

6. What were the results of your test? Was your prototype successful? Somewhat successful?
Unsuccessful? Explain.

7. What are the strengths and weaknesses of your prototype design?

8. Do you think that astronauts would be safe if they lived on Mars in a larger version of your
prototype? Why or why not?

9. What resources do you wish you had in order to build a better prototype and perform a better
test on that prototype? Explain.

10. If NASA decided to use your prototype as the model for building a real Martian astronaut base,
what advice would you give them?
 Mars Hazard Research Form

As you complete your research about Mars, compile a list of potential hazards for the astronauts who
are sent to live in a Martian base, as well as hazards to their equipment and the base as a whole. List
and describe as many hazards as possible.

HAZARD HARMFUL TO . . . (How could this cause problems for or endanger

(In general, what is the (check all that apply) the astronauts, their equipment, and the base?)
hazard?)
Astronauts
Equipment
Base Structure
Astronauts
Equipment
Base Structure
Astronauts
Equipment
Base Structure
Astronauts
Equipment
Base Structure
Astronauts
Equipment
Base Structure
Astronauts
Equipment
Base Structure
Astronauts
Equipment
Base Structure
Astronauts
Equipment
Base Structure
Astronauts
Equipment
Base Structure
Astronauts
Equipment
Base Structure