• On November 26th, 2011, NASA launched the Curiosity rover to replace the Spirit and Opportunity • Curiosity landed on August 5th, 2012 and has been sending pictures and data back since • The project cost the US $2.5 billion, and Germany contributed an additional $3.1 billion. • Explore more about the Mars Space Laboratory at NASA’s mission control page • Follow the Mars Rover Mission Page link on Mr. A’s website and find the ‘Fact Sheet’ – What is the Rover’s mission? – How long will it be on Mars? – What is one piece of equipment the rover has? – Using the ‘Latest image gallery’ explain what Abraham Lincoln has to do with the rover • When finished, get Rocket Science 101 app • Rover traveled through atmosphere and space, which takes careful understanding of the mechanics of flight… • How do planes fly? • Forces of flight? • Plane wings have a distinct, curved shape • The shape is lets them achieve lift. How? • Diffusion! Air moves from high to low pressure • Earth’s atmosphere plays a large role for life on the planet, as well as objects leaving or entering the planet • Meteors burn up in atmosphere – Why? – Force of friction on air particles. • Explore the effects of atmosphere on the mechanics of flight! 1. Research the conditions of another planet in the solar system and explain how it would affect a probe of your creation using PowerPoint 2. Design your own mission and a rocket to escape from a specific planet in the solar system, then estimate its cost on a poster 3. Create a newspaper or blog story or news report about an imaginary space mission and shuttle launch that was unsuccessful and why. • Research the atmosphere and terrain of a planet in the solar system and explain how it would affect a probe of your design sent there to explore – – – – What are the gases present? What is the terrain like? How does the atmosphere compare to Earth’s? What is the weather like there? Wind speed? Etc. Design a probe (like Curiosity) that can navigate the obstacles on this planet. • Design your own mission and a rocket to escape from a specific planet in the solar system and estimate its cost on a poster – Why did we come to this planet (to collect samples, find a rare metal, explore) and why are we leaving? – What is the gravity like on the planet? Atmosphere? – What are we leaving with (people, equipment, etc.) and what does our rocket weigh? – Design a rocket using Rocket Science 101 app as a resource guide – Estimate how much power the rocket needs to leave the planet and how much it would cost to make • Create a newspaper or blog story or news report about an imaginary space mission and shuttle launch that was unsuccessful and why – What is the point of this mission? (Put a satellite into orbit, explore a planet, etc.) – What were atmospheric conditions like? Were they abnormal? (Air pressure, wind speed, direction, etc.) – Which part(s) of the rocket malfunctioned? (Rocket Science 101 app) – Have quotes from an interview with a NASA official – Compare to the Challenger and Columbia Disasters