Astronomy: Mars Missions: Rovers, Landers, and Samples
Exploring how spacecraft study the Red Planet
Astronomy: Mars Missions: Rovers, Landers, and Samples
Exploring how spacecraft study the Red Planet
Astronomy - Grade 6-8
- 1
A rover, a lander, and an orbiter all study Mars in different ways. Describe one main job of each type of spacecraft.
Think about where each spacecraft is located: above Mars, fixed on the ground, or moving across the ground.
An orbiter travels around Mars and studies the planet from above. A lander stays in one place on the surface and studies the area around it. A rover drives across the surface to examine rocks, soil, and landforms in different locations. - 2
Why are wheels, cameras, and a robotic arm useful tools for a Mars rover?
Wheels allow a rover to move to new places, cameras help scientists see the landscape and choose targets, and a robotic arm can place instruments close to rocks or collect samples. - 3
Mars is much farther away than the Moon. Explain why engineers cannot drive a Mars rover with a joystick in real time from Earth.
Consider how long it takes a message to travel through space.
Engineers cannot drive a Mars rover in real time because radio signals take several minutes to travel between Earth and Mars. By the time a command arrives, the rover and its surroundings may have changed, so commands must be planned carefully. - 4
A rover travels 120 meters over 6 days. What is its average distance traveled per day?
Average distance per day equals total distance divided by number of days.
The rover traveled an average of 20 meters per day because 120 meters divided by 6 days equals 20 meters per day. - 5
A lander measures temperature, wind, and air pressure on Mars. What branch of science is it helping scientists study, and why is that useful?
The lander is helping scientists study Martian weather and climate. This is useful because it helps scientists understand the current environment on Mars and plan safe future missions. - 6
Some Mars rovers look for signs that liquid water existed in the past. Name two pieces of evidence a rover might look for in rocks or landforms.
Think about clues water can leave behind on Earth, such as river rocks or lake sediments.
A rover might look for rounded pebbles that were shaped by flowing water and layered sedimentary rocks that formed in lakes or rivers. It might also look for minerals that usually form in the presence of water. - 7
A rover collects a rock core and seals it inside a sample tube. Explain why sealing the sample is important.
Sealing the sample is important because it protects the rock from contamination and keeps it as close as possible to its original Martian condition. This helps scientists study the sample accurately later. - 8
A future Mars sample return mission would bring selected samples back to Earth. Give two reasons why scientists want to study Mars samples in Earth laboratories.
Compare the size and power of lab equipment on Earth with instruments that must fit on a spacecraft.
Scientists want to study Mars samples on Earth because Earth laboratories have larger and more powerful instruments than a rover can carry. Scientists can also repeat tests, use many methods, and allow researchers from different places to study the same samples. - 9
Mission planners must choose a landing site for a rover. List three features that would make a landing site scientifically interesting and reasonably safe.
A good landing site might have evidence of past water, exposed layers of rock, and different rock types to study. It should also be relatively flat and not have too many large boulders or steep slopes that could damage the spacecraft. - 10
A rover sends back 18 images each hour during a 5-hour science session. How many images does it send during the session?
Multiply the number of images per hour by the number of hours.
The rover sends 90 images during the session because 18 images per hour multiplied by 5 hours equals 90 images. - 11
Explain how a rover can help scientists decide whether Mars may once have had conditions suitable for life.
Focus on conditions that could support life, not only on finding living organisms.
A rover can study rocks, soil, and minerals to look for evidence of past water, energy sources, and chemicals needed by living things. These clues help scientists decide whether Mars once had a habitable environment, even if the rover does not find life itself. - 12
Put these mission steps in a logical order and explain your order: launch from Earth, land on Mars, collect data or samples, travel through space, send results back to Earth.
The logical order is launch from Earth, travel through space, land on Mars, collect data or samples, and send results back to Earth. The spacecraft must first leave Earth, then cross space to Mars, reach the surface safely, do its science work, and communicate the results.