Mission to Mars

Marsbound!
Mission to the Red Planet
a STEM learning activity created by NASA

Presented by
nt
a
k
t
l
c
tri onsu rdee
s
e
Ken nce C al Awa
a
n
ie
ti
Don PI Sc siden Fellow
D
NC T, Pre eavor
C
NB A End
eet 9
r
I
t
P
S
D
n S 2769
a
o
NA
n
t
i
ol ming lina
r
a
l
.u s
C
i
o
c
r
h
n
W
a
t
.
Nor North orth C i.state
301 igh, N k@dp
e
c
Ral nestri
dke

What is Marsbound!?

project-based STEM activity

students in grades 4-12
plan an unmanned mission
use reality-based science goals,
engineering constraints, and economic
guidelines

Endeavoring Marsbound!

Why Mars?

Mars is near Earth

Elliptical orbit like Earth
Potential for colony

Why MARS?

Surface conditions
Similar geology
Availability of water
Atmosphere (thin)
Natural conditions similar to arctic and
Antarctic

Mars is like EARTH

24.6 hour
rotation
Similar axis tilt
Polar ice caps
Magnetic field

Mars is like EARTH

Large river valleys

Super grand canyon

Mars is like EARTH

Volcanoes

Mars is like EARTH

Climate range similar to Earth
Sky and clouds, dust storms

Endeavoring Marsbound!

Introductory Activity:
Generate interest in MARS
PowerPoint presentation
Web quest
Symphony of Science

NASA Marsbound
Activity 1:
Exploring Mission Science Goals
(page 4 TG, page 4 SG)

Students become familiar with the Follow

the Water strategy/goals for exploring Mars
Students match goals to Mars features

NASA Marsbound
Activity 2:
Choosing Mission Science Goals
(page 5 TG, page 7 SG)

Students discuss possible Science goals for

their mission
Students choose 5 Science goals for their
mission

NASA Marsbound
Activity 3:
Engineering Constraints
(page 5 TG, page 7 SG)

Students learn about the concept of

engineering constraints
Students examine engineering constraints of
a mars mission and generate solutions to
them

NASA Marsbound
Activity 4:
Building the Spacecraft
(page 5 TG, page 10 SG)

Students construct a spacecraft to carry out

their planned mission

NASA Marsbound
Activity 5:
Mission Design Report
(page 6 TG, page 12 SG)

Students write up their mission design for

submission to NASA

Endeavoring Marsbound!

Stand-Alone Activity: Design Challenge

(Activity 4 modified, page 6 TG)

Student groups complete Building the

Spacecraft as a design challenge competition

Mars Design Challenge

Note* mass requirements and allotments
on cards
Note* energy requirements for a mission
Note* budget requirements for a mission:
One million dollars

Mars Design Challenge

Using your Mission Cards, Design mat,
and Design Log, plan a Mission to Mars.
When your Mission is ready to submit
(you have calculated within budget, power
and mass limitations), ask for your problem
card. Discuss in your group how your
problem card will impact your Mission.
(As time allows.) Choose someone from
your group to report out to the group at
large.

Resources
Explore Mars ..basic information
http://www.astrodigital.org/mars/index.html
Haughton Mars Projectanalogue for Mars
http://www.arctic-mars.org/
ExploreMarsNow.interactive habitat
http://www.exploremarsnow.org/
ASU Mars education program (NASA)
http://marsed.mars.asu.edu/

Resources
NCDPI at NCWiseOwl:
http://science.ncwiseowl.org/
the PowerPoint and the pdf files to pursue MARSBOUND will
be posted here

Symphony of Science:
Mars is a World of Wonders