M . A . R . S . Mars Aerial Reconnaissance Simulation

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M . A . R . S . Mars Aerial Reconnaissance
Simulation
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Your Mission

• Find an ideal location to build the first base on
  Mars.

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Scenario

• The year is 2022.
• After months of space travel, your team of
  astronauts finally arrives at its destination,
  Mars.
• Mission directive Conduct aerial reconnaissance
  to find an ideal location to build the first
  Martian base.

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Scenario

• Each team of four to six students will control
  the flight path of one M.A.R.S. surveyor plane.
• Students will use their planes to scan potential
  sites for two major requirements
• Find a site big enough on which to build a
  Martian base. That means the site must measure at
  least 10 square kilometers.
• The site must contain high concentrations of
  hematite, a mineral normally formed in the
  presence of water.

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Scenario

• Why water?
• With water you get a limitless supply of hydrogen
  for fuel, oxygen for breathing, and, of course,
  liquid for nourishment.
• Without water you would have to turn around and
  go home before the precious supplies you have on
  board run out.

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Scenario

• At the end of the mission, students will decide
  as a group on which site to recommend to mission
  control.

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The M.A.R.S. Surveyor Plane

• M - Mars
• A - Aerial
• R - Reconnaissance
• S - Simulation

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How Does the M.A.R.S. Surveyor Plane Work?

• Flies over the surface of Mars.
• Scans each potential Mars base site for its area
  and hematite content, using a mass spectrometer,
  magnetic sensors, and video equipment.

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Each Team Controls Flight Path of One Plane

• Your team will have people in one of three roles
  
• Navigation
• Science/Operations
• Communications
• Your team chooses a flight path. You will need to
  visit as many sites as possible that meet your
  requirements.
• If you have enough fuel left, you may land the
  surveyor plane.

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Navigation

• Calculate the amount of fuel used to reach at
  least three sites.
• Choose a site to visit based on a decision graph
  to compare fuel consumption to mineral density.
• Use the nav report form to record the site name.
  Also record the fuel consumption.
• Verbally inform the science/operations experts of
  which site will be visited next.
• Repeat steps 2-4.

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Science/Operations

• Calculate the area of each site chosen by the
  navigation experts.
• Record the hematite density for each visited site
  on the sci/ops report form.
• Assign each site a rating, with 1 being the best
  and 3 being the worst.
• Give the report form to the communications
  experts.

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Communications

• Make sure there is a steady flow of information
  to and from mission control to each team.
• Relay written and oral reports every 5-6 minutes.
  
• Type report form information from the nav and
  sci/ops experts and other messages into a
  chat/data window.
• Use the videoconferencing/computer software and a
  microphone to communicate verbally with mission
  control. Ask and answer questions to and from
  mission control.

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Good Luck on Your Mission!

• Before the mission begins, prepare your team by
• Reviewing the descriptions for your jobs.
• Practicing with the online tools.
• Discussing a flight path strategy to try with
  your team.
• Discussing the communication flow within your
  team.