Join the adventure with 562,797 students worldwide!
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
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
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

What we’re learning this week
Each mission to Mars has a set of science objectives. These have ranged from measuring marsquakes to sampling the Martian geology. In this section, students will determine what goals will make their mission a successful one.
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.
- You’ll also want to think about how you’re going to get to your destination, when you need to launch, and where you will land when you get there.
Week 2 newsletter coming Jan. 21

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

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

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
Education Resources
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Teachable Moments
Land 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 Educators
Exploring 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 Families
Learning Space With NASA at Home
Explore space and science activities students can do with NASA at home.
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Resources for Students
Exploring 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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Events
Live online events about NASA Mars exploration
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Participate
Send your name to Mars and join online campaigns
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People
Meet JPL interns working on the Perseverance Mars rover
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Videos
Mars exploration videos from NASA
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Images
Mars exploration images and graphics from NASA
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Downloads
Stickers, coloring pages, 3-D graphics and more
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Articles
Articles 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