Mission Toolkit
The Mission Toolkit is a collection of Experiments and Materials related to Analog Mars Missions. They offer a view into the essential need for a proper analog mission like scientific experiments in the categories of Life, Geo and Robotic sciences.
Selected schools will receive a physical toolkit that includes an analog suite with all the necessary training gear and courses needed to prepare the students for the EXPLORE mission.
Furthermore, the Mission Toolkit offers a virtual toolkit: several curriculum and classroom compatible activities that can be used by any teacher or school, with some activities designed for middle schools, even those not directly involved in the actual EXPLORE mission to Portugal. These range from activities for IT classes to workshop classes to physical education classes, and some are even universally applicable, such as team building exercises.
Virtual Toolkit
Check out the virtual toolkit activities below:
Exploring Mars with Scratch
Students create a game using Scratch, a programming language, to simulate rover exploration on Mars.
Train Like an Astronaut
An experiment for training reflexes and collecting data.
Rover Games
Students navigate an obstacle course while blindfolded, simulating a rover on Mars receiving delayed instructions from Earth.
Learning Sampling
Explore categorization in science, using examples from various fields including astronomy, biology, and geography.
Robotic Digits
Students construct robotic arms using everyday materials to learn about robotics in space.
Martian Red
A simulation of iron oxidation on Mars, causing the planet’s distinctive red hue.
Team Power
Team-building exercises and emphasizes the importance of teamwork in science.
Off to Mars
Simulate the planning of a mission to Mars, involving orbital mechanics and launch windows.