Welcome to Remote Sensing! Beta Test Unit Landing Page

Remote Sensing Unit Cover image collage of a remote sensing device on a planet surface

NOTE: This (and any page with Beta in the title) is intended only for educators who have been selected to test the Remote Sensing Units in the spring and summer of 2023. If you ARE a Beta test educator, then please be sure to check that you only navigate to Beta Test pages. If you ever end up on a different page, then you can navigate back to this page by selecting the Beta Tab in the top menu on any page.

If you are NOT a Beta test educator, then please return to the main PLANETS Homepage by pressing the PLANETS logo at the top of the page. Don't worry, we will release new, improved, free versions of PLANETS for all, later this year.


In this unit, youth learn how we explore other planets and moons remotely by 

  • Engineering a remote sensing device with basic materials (Engineering Activities P1-A6);
  • Exploring actual data from Mars to find out what landforms, terrain, and minerals are there (Science Activities PS1-S3);  
  • Choosing a landing site for a future rover (Science Activity S4).

Step 1: Choose Your Pathway: Engineering, Science, or Both?

Be sure to read the front matter of the guides, plan your activity schedule, and communicate with families.

  1. Engineering Educator Guide, Youth Engineering Notebook, and Engineering Kit Materials List.
  2. Science Educator Guide, Youth Science Notebook, Science Kit Materials List, and Science Background Knowledge.
  3. Review ways to make connections with families and share this link.

Resources for each activity can be found on the Activity Thumbnails shown in step 2 below.

Step 2: Use Digital Resources to Help Prepare for Teaching. Select the Activity Thumbnails Below to Access Educator Videos, Quick Tips, and Digital Resources

Engineering Activities

Science Activities

Step 3: Quick Links to Helpful Resources

These links are meant to make your life easier by providing easy access to a Master Resource Page and Vocabulary Lists. That way you don't need to try to remember where you saw a given video, PDF, or vocab term.

Step 4: Links for Educators Who Want to Go Beyond PLANETS

If you are looking for more NASA and Space Science Educator Resources, then explore a few here:

To develop deeper planetary science content, explore additional resources such as STEM careers, extension activities, NASA missions.

Cool NASA Videos

YouTbe screenshot to show playlist iconAccess the full playlist by tapping the 3-bar menu at the top-right of the video.