Mission to Mars

In this activity students will find out that the sustainability of life depends on the quality of air, the availability of water and materials from the ground, and on using resources wisely. They use their knowledge of theories about conditions on other planets and the origin of life on Earth to speculate about the possibility of life in other parts of the universe.

What you need:

paper
pencil or pen
sheet to record your ideas
class organised into groups of four.

What to do

Read the challenge below and decide who you should take on your mission to Mars. You will have 2 minutes to think on your own, 2 minutes to share with a friend, and 10 minutes to work with your group. Record your ideas in a table.

The challenge

You have been selected to choose the team that will settle the first-ever Mars colony from Earth. It will take nine months to get there from Earth and the space ship that takes the team will be very cramped.

When they arrive on Mars, the team will need to set up a working colony with suitable buildings, water, oxygen, and food supplies. They will also need to set up a space-port for those who come to Mars later, to add to the colony.

Only 10 people and supplies can fit into the space ship that will take them to Mars.
Who should go?
What sort of skills, qualifications, or experience do you think they should have?

Further research

Research the characteristics of Mars. Now that you know more, would your list change? How?
Make a detailed list of the requirements of a sustainable 'working colony', for example, health, safety, shops, and leisure. Categorise your list using headings and sub-headings to help you. Once you have done this, prioritise each item.

Background knowledge

Mars

Average distance from Sun: 228 million kilometres

Revolution period (year): 686.98 Earth days

Rotation period (day): 24.6 hours

Equatorial diameter: 6786 kilometres

Mass: 0.11 times the mass of the Earth

Temperature range: - 143ºC to +17ºC

Gravitational pull: 0.38 times that of the Earth

Natural satellites (moons): two - Phobos and Deimos

Composition: dense core, molten rocky mantle, and a thin crust

Atmosphere: 95.3% carbon dioxide, 2.7% nitrogen, 1.6% argon, 0.15% oxygen, and 0.03% water

When it is in the night sky, Mars is easily visible with the unaided eye. Its apparent brightness varies greatly according to its relative position to the Earth. Mars was the Greek god of war.

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