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Maggie Goes to Mars Lesson Plan

A broad field of flattened rocks stretches to a horizons dominated by two foothills on Mars.
NASA’s Curiosity captured this panorama using its Mastcam while heading west away from Gediz Vallis channel on Nov. 2, 2024, the 4,352nd Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The Mars rover’s tracks across the rocky terrain are visible at right.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Levels
  • Intermediate (6-8)
Material Type
  • Lesson Plan
Heliophysics Big Ideas
  • Big Idea 2.1 – Life on Earth has evolved with complex diversity…
NGSS
  • ESS1 - Earth's Place in the Universe
Heliophysics Topics
  • Space Weather
  • Solar Flare
Heliophysics Missions
  • Parker Solar Probe
Material Cost per Learner Free
Language English

This is a self-guided online challenge which walks students through the sort of planning it would take to put together a mission to Mars, including space weather conditions and the Earth-Sun-Mars configuration.

"Help! The Mars Insight Lander has hit a snag! Currently, NASA engineers and scientists are occupied with the Perseverance Mission to Mars. They are searching for promising space cadets to help with the Insight Lander also currently on Mars. The Insight Lander has been using its robotic arm to help the heat probe known as the “mole” burrow into Mars. Unfortunately, a rockslide has buried part of the arm and it can no longer assist the mole. To get the Insight Mission back on track, NASA needs YOU to help plan and execute the rescue mission to Mars. Because NASA won’t be ready to send humans to Mars until around the year 2030, man’s best friend and canine astronaut extraordinaire, Maggie, has been enlisted to help you complete this mission."

Access this resource here. ↗