NASA activity: Survival on the moon
Scenario:
You are a member of a space crew originally scheduled to rendezvous with a mother ship on
the lighted surface of the moon. However, due to mechanical difficulties, your ship was forced
to land at a spot some 200 miles from the rendezvous point. During re-entry and landing, much
of the equipment aboard was damaged and, since survival depends on reaching the mother
ship, the most critical items available must be chosen for the 200-mile trip. Below are listed the
15 items left intact and undamaged after landing. Your task is to rank order them in terms of
their importance for your crew in allowing them to reach the rendezvous point. Place the
number 1 by the most important item, the number 2 by the second most important, and so on
through number 15 for the least important.
Step 1:
Create a personal ranking of the 15 undamaged items– record your ranking in column 1.
Step 2:
Rank the 15 undamaged items with your group – record your group ranking in column 2.
Step 3:
Personal performance: In column 4 calculate the absolute difference between your individual
ranking and NASA’s ranking (i.e., column 1 minus column 3). Total column 4.
Group performance: repeat the process for the absolute difference between your team ranking
against NASA’s (column 5). Total column 5.
Group potential: Complete columns 6.
Step 4:
Debrief in your group:
 What was it like to do this activity? What went very well in your group? What could
have gone better?
 Comparing your group’s score to the potential of the group, how far off are you? What
could have helped to end up with a score that is closer to the actual potential of your
group?
 Make a list of your 3 most important conclusions from this activity. Be concise and ready
to share them with the whole class.
1
2
3
Individual Group NASA
ranking
ranking ranking
Box of matches
Food concentrate
50 ft. of nylon rope
Parachute silk
Portable heating
unit
Two .45 caliber
pistols
One case of
dehydrated milk
Two 100 lb. of
oxygen
Stellar map
Self-inflating life raft
Magnetic compass
20 liters of water
Signal flares
First aid kit,
including injection
needle
Solar powered FM
receiver-transmitter
Total scores:
4
Absolute
difference
between NASA
and individual
ranking
5
Absolute
difference
between NASA
and group
ranking
6
Smallest
deviation
from NASA
ranking in
your group