Mission to Mars
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Mission to Mars Marsbound! Mission to the Red Planet …a STEM learning activity created by NASA
description
Mission to Mars. Marsbound! Mission to the Red Planet …a STEM learning activity created by NASA. Presented by…. Donna Kenestrick NCDPI Science Consultant NBCT, Presidential Awardee NASA Endeavor Fellow North Carolina DPI 301 North Wilmington Street Raleigh, North Carolina 27699 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Mission to Mars
Mission to Mars
Marsbound!Mission to the Red Planet
…a STEM learning activity created by NASA
Presented by…
Donna Kenestrick
NCDPI Science Consultant
NBCT, Presidential Awardee
NASA Endeavor Fellow
North Carolina DPI
301 North Wilmington Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699
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!
• Mars is near Earth• Elliptical orbit like Earth• Potential for colony
Why Mars?
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 Project…analogue 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
