STEM Challenge - Project: Explore Mars - Create a Space Probe for a MARS Mission

Looking for a flexible, multi-day activity that gets your students “doing science?” Every STEM Challenge offers a hands-on, inquiry-based, student-led project designed to allow them to step into the roles of researchers and engineers.

STEM Challenge projects are ideal for use at any time throughout the school year, between units, before breaks, or during afternoons when testing weeks occur.

For teachers, there are presentations and step-by-step guides to facilitate pacing and lesson plans that align with standards. Students utilize the included notebooks to guide them through activities (both individually and in small groups), challenge them to learn new information, and reflect on and apply the information they have learned.

The Challenge:

A team of astronauts has just landed on Mars, but the astronauts cannot leave the base because some of their equipment was damaged beyond repair during entry. Fortunately, the air locks are still working and a probe can leave the spacecraft. The goal of this mission was to bring back rock and soil samples. Even with the problems on entry, NASA believes that with some ingenuity back on Earth, the mission can still be a success. The flight director has given everyone who is willing to work on the problem back at home the manifest of the spacecraft with the goal to create a working probe. The probe will need to be able to collect samples from up to 50 meters from the ship. As a low-level data analyst, you are eager to show your willingness to help out with the mission. Using the manifest, build a prototype of a probe to present to the NASA flight director. The winning design will be sent to Mars for the astronauts to build. You've always thought you deserved a better salary. This is your time to prove your worth! Good luck!

What’s in a STEM Challenge?

• a video explaining the engineering challenge and setting the context for the project
• a BIG Question to guide the inquiry
• teacher presentation in PPT (Google-compatible) and Keynote
• a teacher's guide on what the teacher and students should be doing along the way
• student notebook offers
  • questions to provide the students with a framework for their inquiry throughout the entire project
  • opportunities to absorb new information and reflect on ways to use it to complete the challenge
• Using the LAUNCH process, students brainstorm with their peers and reflect on failures and opportunities, with the prospect of sharing their ideas with the world. This holds students accountable, and they will put forth the best effort, knowing that other students could critique the project.
• Each STEM Challenge contains a list of suggested supplies for its project. We were very cautious about choosing inexpensive items, and the supply list is dynamic, allowing for adjustments to individual situations. Suggested supplies include:
  • bottle caps from water bottles or other plastic bottles
  • cardboard
  • toothpicks
  • paper
  • paperclips
  • pipe cleaners
  • straight pins
  • large buttons
  • small plastic spoons
  • small Dixie cups
  • popsicle sticks
  • glue 
  • tape
  • toilet paper rolls
  • baggies

NGSS Standards

Aside from the engineering components of this project, students will be learning about the future of space exploration and its limitations.

NGSS: MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3, MS-ETS1-4