Get Ready to Go to Mars
What does it take to go to Mars?
People have long been fascinated by Mars, the planet in our solar system that is most like Earth. Uncrewed missions have sent orbiters, probes and rovers to explore the planet since the 1960s, but what would it take to carry out a successful human mission to Mars?
Set up the Challenge Mat.
These are the models that must be built and placed on the Challenge Mat:
- Communications Station and Satellite
- Flight Crew
- Crater, MSL Robot and Rock Samples
- Solar Panel
- Rocket and Launcher
- Mars Outpost
Build the *Communications Station* and *Satellite*.
When you’ve finished building, set up the finished models on the Challenge Mat.
Setting Up the Communications Station
When you’re setting up the Communications Station:
- Make sure that the model has been built correctly and operates as it should.
- Carefully apply the Dual Lock fasteners and place the model in the correct position on the Challenge Mat.
Setting Up the Satellite
When you’re setting up the Satellite:
- Make sure that the model has been built correctly.
- Place the model in the base area on the Challenge Mat.
Build the *Flight Crew*.
When you’ve finished building, set up the finished model on the Challenge Mat.
Setting Up the Flight Crew
When you’re setting up the Flight Crew:
- Make sure that the Flight Crew has been built correctly.
- Carefully apply the Dual Lock fasteners and place the Flight Crew correctly on the Challenge Mat.
Build the *Crater*, *MSL Robot* and *Rock Samples*.
When you’ve finished building, set up the finished models on the Challenge Mat.
Setting Up the Crater and MSL Robot
When you’re setting up the models, carefully apply the Dual Lock fasteners to the Crater and place the models in the correct positions on the Challenge Mat.
Setting Up the Rock Samples
When you’re setting up the Rock Samples, make sure to place the rocks that are marked with red on Mars, and the rock that’s been marked with white on the Vesta asteroid.
Build the *Solar Panel*.
When you’ve finished building, set up the finished model on the Challenge Mat.
Setting Up the Solar Panel
When you’re setting up the Solar Panel:
- Make sure that the model has been built correctly and operates as it should.
- Carefully apply the Dual Lock fasteners and place the model in the correct position on the Challenge Mat.
Build the *Rocket* and *Launcher*.
When you’ve finished building, set up the finished models on the Challenge Mat.
Setting Up the Rocket and Launcher
When you’re setting up the models:
- Make sure that the Launcher has been built correctly and operates as it should.
- Carefully apply the Dual Lock fasteners and place the models in the correct positions on the Challenge Mat.
Build the *Mars Outpost*.
When you’ve finished building, set up the finished model on the Challenge Mat.
Setting Up the Mars Outpost
When you’re setting up the Mars Outpost:
- Make sure that the model has been built correctly and operates as it should.
- Carefully apply the Dual Lock fasteners and place the model in the correct position on the Challenge Mat.
What did you build?
Describe the model(s) that you’ve built and explain the role that your model(s) could play in a human mission to Mars.
Come up with a plan!
How could a robot interact with the different models on the Challenge Mat during a mission? What are some ways in which you could use features of the Challenge Mat to help you navigate?
How did you do?
What did you do well? Is there anything that you could have done better?
Let the Space Challenge begin!