Build a stationary launching device to send a model rocket to Mars.
Goals
Materials
Materials List
- LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 robotics set
- Tablet with LEGO® Programming app
- Model Space Launch System (SLS) rocket
- Rocket Launch mat
- Ruler
Materials List
- LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 robotics set
- Tablet with LEGO® Programming app
- Model Space Launch System (SLS) rocket
- Rocket Launch mat
- Ruler
Mission Briefing
Instructions
-
- Investigate how the rocket moves by positioning it over the rocket image, aiming it at Mars, and pushing with your hands. Try to get the tip of the rocket as close as possible to the white crosshairs at the center of Mars.
- Now imagine how you will build your robotic rocket launching device. Consider how you will control the force on your rocket so that it successfully reaches Mars.
- Make a plan to create your rocket-launching device. Think about how you can use the robot’s motors to push the rocket across the mat. How will you make sure the rocket’s wheels stay on the mat the whole time? What can you do to help it move in a straight line?
- Test and evaluate your build. Remember that your launcher must remain stationary, sitting behind the rocket and pushing it forward.
- After you have practiced launching the rocket, run 10 trials and record the distance (in cm) between the rocket and the center of Mars. Create a table in the GeoGebra app to record these distances.
- Think about what was successful about your design, as well as which parts could be improved. Make necessary changes and test again. Repeat this process until you are satisfied with your results.
- Watch this video to learn about box-and-whisker plots and make one to communicate your launch data.
-
- Once you’ve completed your trials, think about how likely it is that your rocket will arrive safely at Mars. How reliable is your launcher when it comes to getting your rocket to stop close to Mars’ orbit?
Communicate your results to the Team Mission: Mars crew after you finish.
Now that you’ve accomplished your goal, find out more about space careers in the Exploring Further section below.
Instructions
-
- Investigate how the rocket moves by positioning it over the rocket image, aiming it at Mars, and pushing with your hands. Try to get the tip of the rocket as close as possible to the white crosshairs at the center of Mars.
- Now imagine how you will build your robotic rocket launching device. Consider how you will control the force on your rocket so that it successfully reaches Mars.
- Make a plan to create your rocket-launching device. Think about how you can use the robot’s motors to push the rocket across the mat. How will you make sure the rocket’s wheels stay on the mat the whole time? What can you do to help it move in a straight line?
- Test and evaluate your build. Remember that your launcher must remain stationary, sitting behind the rocket and pushing it forward.
- After you have practiced launching the rocket, run 10 trials and record the distance (in cm) between the rocket and the center of Mars. Create a table in the GeoGebra app to record these distances.
- Think about what was successful about your design, as well as which parts could be improved. Make necessary changes and test again. Repeat this process until you are satisfied with your results.
- Watch this video to learn about box-and-whisker plots and make one to communicate your launch data.
-
- Once you’ve completed your trials, think about how likely it is that your rocket will arrive safely at Mars. How reliable is your launcher when it comes to getting your rocket to stop close to Mars’ orbit?
Communicate your results to the Team Mission: Mars crew after you finish.
Now that you’ve accomplished your goal, find out more about space careers in the Exploring Further section below.
EV3 Video
EV3 Video
EV3 Video
EV3 Video
Exploring Further
NASA Careers
NASA data scientists use statistics and mathematics to make their missions succeed. They collect, evaluate, and analyze all kinds of data to inform decisions from the very beginning of a project all the way to its conclusion.
Find out more from some NASA data scientists!
A Research Scientist who studies water on Mars through data analysis and numerical modeling.
A Principal Data Scientist and Chief Architect at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Let’s take a look at how they might use test data to determine the best way to launch a rocket to Mars.
Once you’ve completed your trials, consider these questions:
- Compare your box and whisker plots. What information can you learn from analyzing the plots?
- Based on your box and whisker plot, do you think your rocket will arrive safely on Mars? Why do you think that?
- Based on your box and whisker plot, what conclusions can you draw about your launcher? Is it a reliable prototype?
- Data scientists are in charge of analyzing the launch data and making a decision on whether to adjust or even rebuild prototypes. Based on your collected data, what do you think about your prototype launcher? Should you make adjustments or rebuild? Why or why not?
- Based on your collected data, what would you report to Team Mission: Mars?
NASA Careers
NASA data scientists use statistics and mathematics to make their missions succeed. They collect, evaluate, and analyze all kinds of data to inform decisions from the very beginning of a project all the way to its conclusion.
Find out more from some NASA data scientists!
A Research Scientist who studies water on Mars through data analysis and numerical modeling.
A Principal Data Scientist and Chief Architect at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Let’s take a look at how they might use test data to determine the best way to launch a rocket to Mars.
Once you’ve completed your trials, consider these questions:
- Compare your box and whisker plots. What information can you learn from analyzing the plots?
- Based on your box and whisker plot, do you think your rocket will arrive safely on Mars? Why do you think that?
- Based on your box and whisker plot, what conclusions can you draw about your launcher? Is it a reliable prototype?
- Data scientists are in charge of analyzing the launch data and making a decision on whether to adjust or even rebuild prototypes. Based on your collected data, what do you think about your prototype launcher? Should you make adjustments or rebuild? Why or why not?
- Based on your collected data, what would you report to Team Mission: Mars?
Discover more from NASA!
- VOCABULARY
- Astronomical Unit (AU): A unit of measurement corresponding to the average distance from the center of Earth to the center of the Sun. One AU is equal to 149.6 million kilometer or 93 million miles.
- Orbit: An orbit is a regular, repeating path that an object in space takes around another object.
- Satellite: Objects in orbit around a body in space. Satellites can be naturally occurring (like our Moon) or human-made (like the International Space Station).
- Velocity: the speed of a moving object along with its direction of movement.
- RESOURCES
- A complete list of all attempted missions to Mars through 2018!
Discover more from NASA!
- VOCABULARY
- Astronomical Unit (AU): A unit of measurement corresponding to the average distance from the center of Earth to the center of the Sun. One AU is equal to 149.6 million kilometer or 93 million miles.
- Orbit: An orbit is a regular, repeating path that an object in space takes around another object.
- Satellite: Objects in orbit around a body in space. Satellites can be naturally occurring (like our Moon) or human-made (like the International Space Station).
- Velocity: the speed of a moving object along with its direction of movement.
- RESOURCES
- A complete list of all attempted missions to Mars through 2018!
Congratulations! You have successfully helped Team Mission: Mars launch our rocket to Mars. Thanks for your help!
THIS MATERIAL PRODUCED BY ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA IS BASED UPON WORK SUPPORTED BY NASA UNDER COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AWARD NUMBER NNX16AM34G.