Name: _____________________________Date: ____________________ Class: ____________________
Space Shelter Research Handout Imagine what it would be like to live on another planet! The conditions
on Earth are very different from the other planets of our solar system. Earth has an atmosphere abundant with oxygen for
us to breathe, fresh water for us to drink, sunshine and soil that enables us to grow food to eat, and resources that provide
energy.
The Earth has been a successful biosphere for more than 3.8 billion years. But if the human race was forced to leave its
planet, how would we adapt to living on another planet? Think of what you would need to survive, such as food, water,
oxygen, energy and shelter.
What questions come to mind? How would you create air, water, energy and food supplies on the new planet? What
would you take with you from Earth and how would you get to your new home? What are the conditions on the new planet
(temperature, weather, climate, etc.)? How would you build a shelter to protect you from your new environment?
If this ever happened, we would call on engineers to help us to address a challenge like this. They would find solutions to
help the human race survive on Mars.
Use this site to compare Earth to Mars and complete each planet’s data for the following characteristics:
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/allaboutmars/facts/#detailedFacts
EARTH
Space Shelter Lesson—Space Shelter Research Handout
MARS
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Name: _____________________________Date: ____________________ Class: ____________________
Pay close attention to some important details and fill in those characteristics below:
Day length:
______________________________ Earth-hours
Percentage of O2 in atmosphere:
______________________________ % O2
Strength of gravity:
______________________________ g
Describe Climate: ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Describe Surface composition of Mars: _____________________________________________________
Now use your Mars data to answer these questions:
1. From the data above, what actually causes such extremely low temperatures?
2. What are the 2 main reasons we need to establish an atmosphere on Mars that allows for crop growth?
3. If we could establish a contained area that would support life, would plants have trouble photosynthesizing?
Why or why not?
4. What is going to be the first item we need to either artificially create or adapt to if we intend to live a long
time on Mars?
5. Name 3 other factors we must get under control ASAP as well! (Not including what you said in #4!)
6. What makes Mar’s atmosphere directly difficult for humans?
7. Scroll down to the “fun facts” and copy the atmosphere percentages for both planets in terms of the
composition percentages.
8. What are we doing to Earth’s atmosphere that will make it more like Mars in the future?
9. Besides the items we have addressed above, come up with 3 other factors we have to work out before we can
have long term settlements on Mars.
10. What are the names of Mars’ 2 moons?
11. What do their names mean in English? (The moons are named in Latin!)
12. We can try and take some items we need with us on the journey. What 5 things would you take with you and
why?
13. Go to this site, play the game at least 3 times, keep track of the items in the table below that you choose to
take each time and your success rate (percentage) after each mission.
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/mars-adventure/en/#/review/mars-adventure/mars_preloader.swf
ITEMS TAKEN
Space Shelter Lesson—Space Shelter Research Handout
SUCCESS RATE
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Name: _____________________________Date: ____________________ Class: ____________________
14. Once you get 3 rounds completed, continue to play until you get 4 stars or above a 95% success rate! (Try
different combinations of items! Once you achieve that you’d be ready to actually launch! List your success
items below:
15. Landing is another problem for obvious reasons! Therefore you need to design a landing shuttle that can safely
get people from the spaceship to the planet. But, travel to Mars is expensive so you must find a passive mode of
transport to the planet’s surface. What does this mean your task is?
16. You are the design team for NASA, engineers hired to deliver scientists to Mar’s surface! You MUST be frugal in
your spending! Below are items you have to work with BUT you can’t exceed your public approved budget! Your
budget is $1.00 (Pretty cheap for space exploration!) To give you an idea of just how ridiculous this is, use a valid
Google site and find out what it cost NASA to send the Mars pathfinder probe “Sojourner” to Mars and record it.
8Use the budget sheet below to determine what items you intend to use and in what amounts. (DO NOT EXCEED
YOUR BUDGET)
Space Shelter Lesson—Space Shelter Research Handout
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