Save time by not having to plan for a week of solar system instruction and employ your students in authentic learning with this NGSS-focused engineering challenge.

Includes 14 detailed slides (PDF and Google Slides link for editing) + detailed teacher directions (last slide).

Mission Red Planet: Engineer and Deploy a Mars Rover is a challenging 5-day project designed to engage your Earth and Space or engineering students in real-world inquiry and problem solving.

Mission Objectives:

1. Build the Rover: Design and build a realistic self-propelled space explorer model (Mars rover) that can successfully land and rove. 

2. Land the Rover: Design and perform a simulated planetary surface landing.

3. Deploy the Rover: Design and build a system that triggers movement upon (and not before) landing.

4. Explore the Planet’s Surface: Design and build a system that allows your rover to move at least 15 feet or 5 meters.