M. A. R. S. Mars Aerial Reconnaissance Simulation

Your Mission Find an ideal location to build the first base on Mars.

Scenario The year is After months of space travel, your team of astronauts finally arrives at its destination, Mars. Mission directive: Conduct aerial reconnaissance to find an ideal location to build the first Martian base.

Scenario Each team of four to six students will control the flight path of one M.A.R.S. surveyor plane. Students will use their planes to scan potential sites for two major requirements: 1.Find a site big enough on which to build a Martian base. That means the site must measure at least 10 square kilometers. 2.The site must contain high concentrations of hematite, a mineral normally formed in the presence of water.

Scenario Why water? –With water you get a limitless supply of hydrogen for fuel, oxygen for breathing, and, of course, liquid for nourishment. –Without water you would have to turn around and go home before the precious supplies you have on board run out.

Scenario At the end of the mission, students will decide as a group on which site to recommend to mission control.

The M.A.R.S. Surveyor Plane M - Mars A - Aerial R - Reconnaissance S - Simulation

How Does the M.A.R.S. Surveyor Plane Work? Flies over the surface of Mars. Scans each potential Mars base site for its area and hematite content, using a mass spectrometer, magnetic sensors, and video equipment.

Each Team Controls Flight Path of One Plane Your team will have people in one of three roles: 1.Navigation 2.Science/Operations 3.Communications Your team chooses a flight path. You will need to visit as many sites as possible that meet your requirements. If you have enough fuel left, you may land the surveyor plane.

Navigation 1.Calculate the amount of fuel used to reach at least three sites. 2.Choose a site to visit based on a decision graph to compare fuel consumption to mineral density. 3.Use the nav report form to record the site name. Also record the fuel consumption. 4.Verbally inform the science/operations experts of which site will be visited next. 5.Repeat steps 2-4.

Science/Operations 1.Calculate the area of each site chosen by the navigation experts. 2.Record the hematite density for each visited site on the sci/ops report form. 3.Assign each site a rating, with 1 being the best and 3 being the worst. 4.Give the report form to the communications experts.

Communications 1.Make sure there is a steady flow of information to and from mission control to each team. 2.Relay written and oral reports every 5-6 minutes. 3.Type report form information from the nav and sci/ops experts and other messages into a chat/data window. 4.Use the videoconferencing/computer software and a microphone to communicate verbally with mission control. Ask and answer questions to and from mission control.

Good Luck on Your Mission! Before the mission begins, prepare your team by: 1.Reviewing the descriptions for your jobs. 2.Practicing with the online tools. 3.Discussing a flight path strategy to try with your team. 4.Discussing the communication flow within your team.