Ecosystems and Biomes A Voyage to Mars

Objectives The student will be able to: Describe the position of each planet with respect to the sun Explain why the Earth’s placement is unique for supporting life Select and evaluate six important items needed for survival on a trip to Mars.

The Solar system

The average distance of each planet from the sun. 1 AU = million km or 93 million miles

Confidential, Classified Government Document TOP SECRET FOR TRAINING ONLY SOURCE: INTSCOM INCLUSIONS: NOFOR TOP SECRET Confidential Classified Government Document Under no conditions are you to divulge any of the information reporte in this document. Failure to comply will be dealt with in the severest possible manner.

Confidential, Classified Government Document On October 25 last year, astronomers at Kitt Peak Observatory in Arizona unexpectedly sighted a huge comet that had never been seen before. Confirmation of their sighting was made at several other observatories in the United States. During a period of more than two months, the comet’s position was observed and carefully plotted. Initial calculations indicated that the comet would pass very close to Earth. In fact, within estimated margin of chance experimental error, a collision with Earth was deemed possible. Because of this possibility and because of the apparent size of the comet, U.S. government officials and astronomers decided not to announce the discovery until a later date.

The gravity of the situation prompted the U.S. government to fund a first- rate study of the comet. The goal was to gather all possible information on the comet and its predicted path. The nation’s top astronomers gathered at Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Arizona, to conduct this study. Their initial work was completed a month ago. Their report states: “We have firmly established that comet α-X is on a collision course with Earth. We have also firmly established that the mass and velocity of the comet are great enough to cause the collision to be fatal. The collision will change Earth’s axis of rotation by more than two degrees. This change will result in massive tidal waves, extremely high velocity winds, and abrupt and severe weather changes. Collision will occur 327 days from today’s date.”

The decision has been made not to inform the peoples of the world of these facts until a well thought-out program has been established. Psychologists, psychiatrists, members of the clergy, scientists, sociologists, and government officials will draw up this plan. In the meantime, the U.S. government will undertake a project to colonize Mars with ten people. Mars was selected because it is the closest object now known that can, with some ingenuity, support life as we know it. Because of the many factors involved in such a project, a team of people with a combination of a science background and other diverse strengths will work on the project. This is an extremely important project; thus, you have a very large budget to work with. Your main limitations are the technologies available to you at this time. Present technology will limit you to sending five rockets; each will carry two passengers and a payload of 100,000 pounds. Five additional unoccupied rockets carrying 100,000 pound payloads each may also be sent.

It has tentatively been determined that the first launchings will begin in approximately eight months. All ten rockets are to be launched during a period of time not to exceed one month. Public announcement of Earth’s situation and the exact nature of this project will be made no less than two weeks after the last rocket is launched and no more than two months before the collision occurs. False information will be given, as necessary, until the appropriate time arrives.

Based on your experience in Activity 2.1, your own background knowledge, and information from the link below, respond to the following questions: 1.What are the ten most important items you will need to bring from Earth to Mars? 2.Share your responses with your teammates. Develop a list of ten items that you all can agree on. Record this list in your own notebook. 3.Due to size and weight limitations, you need to narrow your list to five items. Do this as a team. Record this list in your notebook. 4.Identify ten people who will go on the trip. You can identify the people by occupation, nationality, skills, hobby, or any other method that makes sense to your team. 5.Create a chart that indicates the identity of each person and two reasons why that person belongs on the team.

Prepare a three-minute oral, presentation for your government sponsors that meets the following criteria: A. Clearly indicate which five items you selected. B. Briefly describe why your five items are important enough to be selected. C. Identify your ten people. D. Justify the selection of your ten people. E. Make your presentation short, interesting, creative, and colorful. (See the judging sheet in the next slide)