Space2Xplore

1.  Grades 5-12 - (1-12 Weeks Depending on Unit) 

Ever wanted to take your students on an exciting journey to Mars from the comfort of the classroom or out-of-school learning environment? Welcome to the Mars4Me Explorer Mission! In these individually tailored units, students learn about Mars, design a mission to explore the planet, build and test model spacecraft and components, and engage in scientific exploration.  This module will introduce students to:  

• Planetary Geology –  Introduces students to the geology of rocky bodies in the solar system as well as known exoplanets. 
• Robotics –  Students will design their robot or drone to meet the requirements of a given environment; adapt their designs to changes in or new information about the environment; and compare the process to the one NASA engineers use to design spacecraft for other planets, like Mars. 
• Coding/Programming –  Using common computing languages, students will program several features of entry, descent, and landing, such as determining your spacecraft's proximity from the surface once it arrives at Mars. 
• Astrobiology & Planetary Protection –  Students will use research to develop an operational definition of life and then use the fundamental criteria for life to examine simulated extraterrestrial soil and rock samples for signs of life. 
• Rocketry and Orbital Trajectories -  Students will 1) build a rocket, 2) learn how a rocket flies and operates, 3) launch a rocket, and 4) collect data about the launch to reinforce our knowledge of how rockets work.  

 Grades 9-12 - (1-12 Weeks Depending on Need) 

Life in space produces profound changes in biology. All organisms on Earth have adapted to perform under conditions of gravity, atmosphere, and cycles of light and darkness that have not changed in millions of years, conditions which are altered aboard spacecraft like the ISS.  In order for humans to spend long durations in space to reach distant planets or simply conduct exciting research, we must try to solve the complex problem of living in space. This module will introduce students to: 

• Discovering how biological systems respond, acclimate and adapt to the space environment
• Understand the purpose of the research and experiments being conducted on the ISS 
• Use bioinformatics databases to identify candidate genes involved in microgravity response. 
• Engineer a 3D-printed “payload” for microgravity experiments 
• Utilize image analysis software to analyze data 

 By exploring and illuminating the world of extreme life on Earth, we can understand how life may have began, and also understand more about the chemical makeup of the cosmos and the habitability on missions to Mars, Saturn’s moon Titan, and beyond.