Collage of images and graphics of Mars and Mars missions

Join the Adventure on Mars!

Get K-12 students exploring Mars with NASA scientists, engineers, and the Perseverance Mars rover as they learn all about STEM and design their very own mission to Mars.

Overview

In this standards-aligned unit, students learn about Mars, design a mission to explore the planet, build and test model spacecraft and components, and engage in scientific exploration. The unit takes students through seven stages, including learning about the planet, planning the mission, designing the spacecraft, launching, landing, surface operations, and sample handling.

Materials

Management

  • The lessons and activities below are organized in each section by grade level. They can be completed in whole or part, and in any sequence.
  • Most lessons are best completed by pairs or teams of students.
  • Some lessons are also available as independent projects for students. The student version can be found at the link directly below the lesson info. 

Background

Ever wanted to take your students on an exciting journey? What if you could take that journey from the comfort of the classroom or out-of-school learning environment? Welcome to Mission to Mars!

Over the course of these lessons, you and your students will learn about and plan a mission to Mars. Your students will apply their creativity and science and math knowledge to explore the Red Planet. Not a scientist or engineer? That's okay! You're going to learn everything you need to know while preparing for and conducting these lessons. And you actually already have some engineering skills, whether you know it or not.

Ready, set, let's go!

Procedures


1. Learn About Mars

Students learn about Mars by watching short videos and engaging in mathematics and art activities.

Meet an Expert

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.

Educator Guides

Student Projects

Student Articles

Student Videos

2. Plan Your Mission

Students engage in the engineering design process to plan a mission to Mars.

Meet an Expert

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.

Educator Guides

Student Videos

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.

Meet an Expert

Before they can launch to Mars, students need to design their spacecraft based on what they want it to do on the Red Planet. Billy Allen, a mechatronics engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, talks about his job on the Perseverance Mars rover mission and some of the important factors to consider when designing a spacecraft. Watch en Español: Seleccione subtítulos en Español bajo el ícono de configuración.

Educator Guides

Student Projects

Student Videos

Student Articles

4. Launch Your Mission

Students learn through the engineering design process what it takes to launch a spacecraft.

Meet an Expert

Before they can conduct research on Mars, students need to launch their spacecraft. Sarah Elizabeth McCandless, a navigation 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 launching a mission to the Red Planet. Watch en Español: Seleccione subtítulos en Español bajo el ícono de configuración.

Educator Guides

Student Projects

Student Articles

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.

Meet an Expert

After a successful launch to Mars, students need to land their spacecraft. Erisa Stilley, an entry, descent and landing 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 landing a mission on the Red Planet. Watch en Español: Seleccione subtítulos en Español bajo el ícono de configuración.

Educator Guides

Student Projects

Student Videos

6. Surface Operations

Once their spacecraft has landed safely, students are challenged to learn about spacecraft communication, energy management on Mars, surface features and life science.

Meet an Expert

After safely touching down on the surface of Mars, it's time for students to start operating their spacecraft. Amila Cooray, a mechatronics engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, talks about his job on the Perseverance Mars rover mission and what goes into operating a mission on the surface of the Red Planet. Watch en Español: Seleccione subtítulos en Español bajo el ícono de configuración.

Extensions