Learning Pathways
In this unit, youth think and work like scientists and engineers as they investigate and use real NASA data about Mars to select a scientifically interesting landing site and design remote sensing devices. In both the science and engineering pathways, youth have the opportunity to build their problem solving, teamwork, communication, and creative thinking skills.
Science Pathway
Planetary scientists often use the technologies developed by engineers to further their understanding of the planets, satellites, and smaller bodies in the solar system. Engaging in the study of other planets provides scientific insight into to the origins of features on Earth.
The science pathway supports youth exploration in the field of planetary science. They participate in a fictional NASA mission to choose a landing site for a Mars rover. Youth engage with and interpret Mars data captured during actual NASA missions. In these activities, youth learn about the data obtained by remote sensing tools and techniques developed by engineers. They explore how planetary scientists use data from these technologies to understand habitable environments on Mars, and how the planet has changed over geologic time.
Activity 1: Remote Sensing and Mars
Youth use images of Mars to find a landing site for a rover of scientific interest to NASA that may indicate past water.
Activity 2: Landing Site Topography
Provides opportunities for youth to compare topographic features of four potential landing sites.
Activity 3: Mineral Fingerprinting
Youth identify minerals that indicate past water or volcanism.
Activity 4: Choose a Landing Site
Youth combine all data to recommend the safest, most interesting landing site.
Engineering Pathway
Remote sensing engineering is an interdisciplinary field that deals with the collection of data remotely, or from a distance. It has a wide variety of applications, from creating models of cities or natural landscapes to helping scientists predict the effects of climate change to precisely tracking orbiting satellites. Remote sensing engineers use techniques from many fields, such as cartography, optics, civil engineering, software engineering, and computer science.
In the activities of this pathway, youth are part of a team on a fictional NASA mission. They will engineer remote sensing devices to gather and visualize information about the surface of Mars. The data they collect will help the scientists meet their scientific goals, such as choosing a landing site that is best suited for gathering data on the geological features of the landscape and looking for evidence of water.
Prep Activity 1: What Is Engineering?
Youth are introduced to the Engineering Design Process as they work together to engineer a tower to support a model antenna.
Prep Activity 2: What Is Technology?
Youth match technologies based on the problem they solve and imagine ways to improve the newer version.
Activity 1: Looking Beyond
Youth use mirrors to change the way light travels in order to see hidden objects.
Activity 2: Secret Messages
Youth explore how manipulating light and color can help them interpret information from a distance that would otherwise be difficult to see.
Activity 3: Taking Shape
Youth engineer a technology that models LiDAR to gather topographical information about the features of a surface.
Activity 4: Create a Remote Sensing Device
Youth work in groups to create remote sensing technologies that can collect data about the Mystery Moon.
Activity 5: Improve
Youth will improve their remote sensing devices and use them to take a final reading from two locations on the Mystery Moon.
Activity 6: Engineering Showcase
Youth communicate their knowledge of remote sensing devices and the information they gathered about the Mystery Moon at the Engineering Showcase.