• 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
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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.
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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