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Join the adventure with 627,877 students worldwide!
Lead students in designing and building a mission to Mars with a guided education plan and resources from NASA, join in live stream Q&As with experts, and share student work with a worldwide audience. The challenge culminates on February 18, when students can land their missions along with the Perseverance Mars rover!
Who can register?
NASA is inviting schools, classrooms, educational organizations, homeschools, and families to register their students. Students under 18 should be registered by a teacher or guardian. Educators can register once on behalf of their entire classroom or organization.
Why register?
You and your students can be part of the excitement as years of planning, research, and engineering culminate with NASA landing the most exciting Mars mission to date. Students will have the opportunity to model different components of a Mars mission while engaging with NASA scientists and engineers along the way. Live programming will be available for students of all grades, and student projects and questions will be highlighted.
Key Dates
Jan. 8
Join the Challenge
Register your class, education group, or family to receive a guided education plan, resources, and opportunities to join in live events with NASA!
Register
Jan. 14 - 3 pm PST
Introducing the Mission to Mars Student Challenge
NASA experts will discuss how to get students engaged in the Perseverance Mars rover landing and answer your questions!
Watch on YouTube
Jan. 11-15
Intro: Getting to Know the Challenge
Before launching into the challenge, take a look at the lessons, hands-on activities, videos, games, and readers on offer over the next five weeks.
View Plan
Jan. 18-22
Week 1: Learn About Mars
Students learn about Mars by watching short videos and engaging in mathematics and art activities.
View Plan
Jan. 25-29
Week 2: Plan Your Mission
Students engage in the engineering design process to plan a mission to Mars.
View Plan
Feb. 1-5
Week 3: Design Your Spacecraft
Now that a mission has been planned, students learn about and build spacecraft, including satellites and rovers, as well as a robotic arm.
View Plan
Feb. 6 - 10 am PST
Teacher Showcase
Register to receive an invitation to join this special interactive workshop for teachers, meet other participants and share student work.
Register
Feb. 8-12
Week 4: Launch Your Mission
Students learn through the engineering design process what it takes to launch a spacecraft.
View Plan
Feb. 15-19
Week 5: Land on Mars
Students use the engineering design process to design landing systems that will enable their spacecraft to land softly on the Mars surface.
View Plan
Feb. 16 - 8:30 am PST
Countdown to Landing: Live Stream for High School Students
NASA engineering and education experts will answer student questions about the Perseverance Mars rover and discuss what to expect on landing day, February 18.
Watch on YouTube
Feb. 16 - 11:30 am PST
Countdown to Landing: Live Stream for Middle School Students
NASA engineering and education experts will answer student questions about the Perseverance Mars rover and discuss what to expect on landing day, February 18.
Watch on YouTube
Feb. 17 - 9:30 am PST
Elementary School Students - Countdown to Landing
NASA engineering and education experts will answer student questions about the Perseverance Mars rover and discuss what to expect on landing day, February 18.
Watch on YouTube
Feb. 18 - 9:30 am PST
Landing Day! Live Stream for All Students
NASA engineering and education experts will answer student questions about the Perseverance Mars rover and discuss what to expect as the rover touches down!
Watch on YouTubeRegister now to land with Perseverance on February 18
Education Plans
IntroductionGetting to Know the Challenge
Jan. 11-15
NASA engineering and education experts discuss how to get students engaged in the Perseverance Mars rover landing and answer audience questions. Watch en Español: Seleccione subtítulos en Español bajo el ícono de configuración. › Download presentation slides
What we’re learning this week
Welcome to NASA’s Mission to Mars Student Challenge! Over the next five weeks, we will be leading you and your students through how to design, build, launch, and land a Mars mission. Get started by taking a look at what’s coming up. Be sure to register for a full list of tips and resources in your email inbox each week.
Tips of the week
- These assignments can be done in any order and in part or in full as schedules allow. If you end up missing a week, don’t fret! It’s easy to catch up.
- All lessons and activities are standards-aligned to Next Generation Science and Common Core Math Standards.
- Short on materials? In most cases, materials can be improvised. It’s all part of the engineering design process.
› Read introductory week newsletter
Week 1 Week 1: Learn About Mars
Jan. 18-22
Before they can launch to Mars, students need to learn more about where they're going and why. Moogega Cooper, a planetary protection engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, shares her tips for this key first step to planning a successful Mars mission. Watch en Español: Seleccione subtítulos en Español bajo el ícono de configuración.
What we’re learning this week
Before they can launch to Mars, students need to learn more about where they're going and why. This week, students will learn more about the Red Planet and determine what they hope to find. This will help them design their mission and plan for launch, arrival, and surface operations.
Tips of the week
- Scientists, and students, learn about Mars to gain an understanding of what's known and unknown about the Red Planet and to develop questions that have yet to be answered. Once they have determined what’s known and what they want to learn, students will be ready for Week 2 of the challenge during which they will plan their mission.
- Learning about Mars can help generate new questions about topics that have already been explored. Encourage students to engage their curiosity and think of ways they might get answers to their questions.
- In addition to the lessons you select from below, encourage students to learn about Mars by perusing NASA’s Mars Exploration website.
› Read week 1 newsletter
Lessons & activities for this week
lessons and activities to choose from
Click to expand
Lessons and activities are aligned to NGSS and Common Core Math standards. These assignments can be done in any order and in part or in full as schedules allow.
Week 2 Week 2: Plan Your Mission
Jan. 25-29
Elizabeth Cordoba, a payload systems engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, talks about her job on the Perseverance Mars rover mission and some of the important factors to consider when planning a mission to the Red Planet. Watch en Español: Seleccione subtítulos en Español bajo el ícono de configuración.
What we’re learning this week
Now that we have some knowledge about our destination, it’s time to plan our mission to Mars. We need to plan for a long trip, determine which power source we’ll use, select science instruments that will help us accomplish our goals, make sure everything will fit on the rocket, and stay under budget! Here’s Elizabeth Cordoba, a payload systems engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with some expert advice about how NASA plans missions to Mars.
Tips of the week
- Planning a mission involves deciding what science you'll do when you get there, balancing budgets, and choosing the best technology and power systems for your spacecraft. This week’s lessons get younger students thinking about locomotion and tools they might put on a Mars robot, while older students, in grades 3 and up, can play a mission-planning board game. If you’re teaching remotely, you can still play the game together as a class!
- Students will also want to think about how they're going to get their spacecraft to its destination, when it will need to launch, and where it will land when it gets to its destination. Traveling to Mars can take anywhere from six to nine months, depending on when you launch and the mass of your spacecraft. High-school students can do the actual calculations to determine the next best opportunity to launch to Mars!
› Read week 2 newsletter
Lessons & activities for this week
lessons and activities to choose from
Click to expand
Lessons and activities are aligned to NGSS and Common Core Math standards. These assignments can be done in any order and in part or in full as schedules allow.
Week 3 Week 3: Design Your Spacecraft
Feb. 1-5
This video lands on January 28. Check back to meet our mission expert and hear their tips for diving into the week's challenge. Register to notified when this video goes live and receive more tips and tools from NASA.
What we’re learning this week
Students will use engineering skills to assemble various spacecraft components to ensure a successful mission on Mars. How will their rover traverse the Martian terrain? What technology will it use to achieve its goals? Students will build, test, and refine as they prepare for launch!
Tips of the week
- Designing their spacecraft is where students get to be really creative! Common materials found around the house, combined with a little ingenuity, can result in great designs!
- Encourage students to first sketch their designs on paper or use technology to create. The drawings don’t need to be perfect.
Week 3 newsletter coming Jan. 28
Lessons & activities for this week
lessons and activities to choose from
Click to expand
Lessons and activities are aligned to NGSS and Common Core Math standards. These assignments can be done in any order and in part or in full as schedules allow.
Week 4 Week 4: Launch Your Mission
Feb. 8-12
This video lands on February 4. Check back to meet our mission expert and hear their tips for diving into the week's challenge. Register to notified when this video goes live and receive more tips and tools from NASA.
What we’re learning this week
We're ready for takeoff! Having designed, tested, and prepared their spacecraft, students are ready to launch their mission to Mars. This week, they will prepare a rocket capable of safely transporting a payload from Earth to Mars on a seven-month journey of nearly 300 million miles.
Tips of the week
- Launching rockets is great fun! Caution students to be careful to aim their rockets away from people and to wear eye protection.
- The simplest rockets involve either balloons or straws. Any balloon will do, it doesn’t have to be a particular shape. If students don’t have straws, encourage them make a paper straw.
Week 4 newsletter coming Feb. 4
Lessons & activities for this week
lessons and activities to choose from
Click to expand
Lessons and activities are aligned to NGSS and Common Core Math standards. These assignments can be done in any order and in part or in full as schedules allow.
Week 5 Week 5: Land on Mars
Feb. 15-19
This video lands on February 11. Check back to meet our mission expert and hear their tips for diving into the week's challenge. Register to notified when this video goes live and receive more tips and tools from NASA.
What we’re learning this week
We’ve finally arrived at Mars, but students have one last task before their mission can begin: landing safely. How will they gently touch down on the surface after cruising at more than 50,000 mph through space? Students must demonstrate their plan for a successful entry, descent, and landing in this week’s challenge.
Tips of the week
- Landing on Mars is tough! NASA engineers, and students, test designs repeatedly and redesign landing systems based on test results. Reassure students that success is rarely achieved on the first try.
- Encourage students to be creative and use found materials as they solve this week’s landing design challenges.
Week 5 newsletter coming Feb. 11
Lessons & activities for this week
lessons and activities to choose from
Click to expand
Lessons and activities are aligned to NGSS and Common Core Math standards. These assignments can be done in any order and in part or in full as schedules allow.
Join the adventure with
627,877
students worldwide!
Education Resources
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Teachable MomentsLand on Mars With NASA's Perseverance Mission
As we count down to landing on February 18, learn how, why, and what Perseverance will explore on Mars, plus find out about an exciting opportunity for you and your students to join in the adventure!
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Resources for EducatorsExploring Mars Lessons
Get students engaged in the excitement of NASA's next mission to Mars with standards-aligned STEM lessons.
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Resources for FamiliesLearning Space With NASA at Home
Explore space and science activities students can do with NASA at home.
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Resources for StudentsExploring Mars Activities
Make a cardboard rover, design a Mars exploration video game, learn about Mars in a minute and explore more STEM activities for students.
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EventsLive online events about NASA Mars exploration
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ParticipateSend your name to Mars and join online campaigns
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PeopleMeet JPL interns working on the Perseverance Mars rover
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VideosMars exploration videos from NASA
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ImagesMars exploration images and graphics from NASA
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DownloadsStickers, coloring pages, 3-D graphics and more
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ArticlesArticles about Mars exploration from JPL News
More Resources from NASA
- › Website: NASA Mars Exploration
- › Website: Perseverance Mars Rover
- › Press Kit: Launching the Perseverance Mars Rover
- › Website: Curiosity Mars Rover
- › Website: NASA Space Place - Mars
- › NASA People: Systems Engineer Farah Alibay
- › NASA People: Education Specialist Brandon Rodriguez
- › NASA People: Systems Engineer Matt Smith
- › NASA People: Systems Engineer Christina (Diaz) Hernandez
- › Twitter: @NASAPersevere
- › Website: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- › Email: JPL Newsletter
- › Website: NASA
- › Website: NASA STEM Engagement
- › Website: NASA Social Media
FAQ
Who can register?
NASA is inviting schools, classrooms, educational organizations, homeschools, and families from around the world to register their students. Students under 18 should be registered by a teacher or guardian. Educators can register once on behalf of their entire classroom or organization.
Why should I register?
You and your students can be part of the excitement as years of planning, research, and engineering culminate with NASA landing the most exciting Mars mission to date. Students will have the opportunity to model different components of a Mars mission while engaging with NASA scientists and engineers along the way. Live programming will be available for students of all grades, and student projects and questions will be highlighted.
What do participants receive?
A guided 5-week education plan for elementary, middle, and high school students with standards-aligned STEM lessons and activities from NASA; a weekly newsletter with links to tips and resources related to the mission phase of the week; video conversations with mission scientists and engineers highlighting how their work relates to what students are learning – plus, ideas to kick-start the weekly challenge; and opportunities to participate in Q&As with mission experts and submit student questions and work that could be featured during NASA broadcasts leading up to and on landing day.
Is there a deadline for registering?
You can register to join the challenge any time between Jan. 8 and landing day, Feb. 18. However, the earlier you register, the more opportunities you will have to participate in events and receive the newsletters with links to education resources and more.
What happens after I register?
Each Thursday, starting Jan. 14, we'll email you a guided education plan for the week ahead along with a video featuring a mission scientist or engineer introducing the theme of the week. Plans will include standards-aligned STEM lessons and activities tied to each week's theme and appropriate for students in TK through 12th grade. Throughout the challenge, you can choose your level of involvement and the activities that are most appropriate for your students. Maybe it’s a busy week and you only have time to watch a short video – we have that for you! Maybe your students are up for more of a challenge. We have lots of options for every age. Younger students will learn the basics while high school students will gain advanced skills. The important thing is to have fun while learning and growing in STEM skills! We'll also send you reminders about online events and opportunities for you and your students to meet mission experts and ask them questions!
Do I have to register to watch the live streams?
You do not have to register to watch the live streams. However, if you would like to submit questions for NASA experts to answer during the live stream, you will need to be registered for the challenge. (If you are not already registered, you can do so by clicking any of the 'register' buttons on this page.) Challenge participants will receive a link and instructions for submitting questions in the newsletter that goes out the week prior to each event. Participants will also receive event reminders from Eventbrite, which will include information about submitting questions.
Will recordings of the live streams be made available?
Yes! Recordings each live stream will be made available at the same link where they are broadcast. The link will also be available on the event listing in the Key Dates area above.
Do we have to do every lesson and activity each week to participate?
You can choose your level of involvement and the activities that are most appropriate for your students. Maybe it’s a busy week and you only have time to watch a short video - great! We have that for you! Maybe your students are up for more of a challenge - great! We have lots of options for every age.
What if my students are joining the challenge late or miss a week?
No problem! It's fine to combine two themes into one week or even skip a theme. Do what works for your students. A quick way to catch up is to simply watch the short introductory videos for each week and one of the Mars in a Minute videos.
What if my students don't have all the materials?
The materials lists contain suggested items, some of which can be found at home. If students don't have access to certain materials, they can get creative in finding substitutes or coming up with design solutions that use different materials, including things they may have at home. For example, if an activity calls for a straw and students don't have straws, have them look around for straw-like substitutes such as paper rolled into a straw! If they need string and don't have any, how about dental floss or sewing thread? Improvising is encouraged!
Are these activities aligned to any standards?
All activities in the Mission to Mars Student Challenge are aligned to NGSS science or engineering standards, and/or Common Core math standards.