16.
16

Pages

1Where is Mars?2How long will it take to get to Mars?3Getting to Mars4How do rockets get off the ground?5Producing Thrust6What happens when rocket fuel burns?7Your mission to Mars!8Our need for oxygen9How oxygen gets to our cells10The effects of gravity11How low gravity affects bones12Preventing bones and muscles from becoming weak13Living and working in space14What do astronomers know about Mars?15A space-craft view of Mars16Exploring Mars17Energy for exploration18The rocky surface of Mars19More about the surface of Mars20The Martian atmosphere21The importance of water22The water cycle on Earth23Is there water on Mars?24Surviving on Mars25Your Martian home26Farming on Mars27Soil on Mars28Plants for Mars29Getting energy on Mars30Where will you go next?

Practicals

1Modelling the solar system in the school yard2Rocket Practical3Investigate the Energy in Fuels4Making a Telescope5What factors affect the output of a solar cell?6Modelling Diffusion7Examining Slides of Blood8What bones are like without calcium salts9Flame Test to Identify Metals10The Different States of Water11Water Purification for Human Consumption12Factors Affecting Germination13Solar Cells for Devices14Mars Bingo
+ _

At last you have landed on Mars! You now need to find out more about the planet which will be your home for some time.
How will you explore your new home? As you learnt on page 3, there have already been unmanned space missions to Mars, and these will give you some ideas about how you could explore Mars.
One important mission to Mars is the NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission which commenced in 2011. On 6th August, 2012, a ‘rover’ robot called ‘Curiosity’ was set down within the ‘Gale Crater’ on Mars. The robot has wheels, and can ‘rove’ (ie. wander around) and gather information.

Science Resource Image

NASA

Science Resource Image

NASA/JPL-CALTECH/ASU

More Information!

Aberystwyth University has devised its own ‘rover’!

Find Out More >

Research Exercise

Send a postcard to Curiosity!

Find Out More >

Curiosity's Travels

Curiosity has driven approximately 8 miles across the surface of Mars since it landed in 2012. That doesn’t sound far, but it’s a long way for a little robot in a harsh environment! It is heading for a part of Mars called Mount Sharp. On 27th July, 2016 on day 1412 after landing, Curiosity was located on the lowest yellow dot in the picture below, and the yellow dot higher in the picture shows the position of Curiosity on day 1410. The scale bar on the picture gives you an idea of distance, and direction is also indicated by compass points. Look at the picture, and answer the questions which follow.

More Information!

Want to know more about Curiosity’s latest location?

Find Out More >
How could we convert Curiosity’s units of speed to km/h so that we can directly compare its speed with the speed of a family car?
First of all, we need to change from metres to kilometres. Because 1 m is one one-thousandth of a kilometre, we need to divide the number of metres by 1000. Then, we need to change the days to hours: because 1 day consists of 24 hours, we need to divide by 24 to find the distance travelled in 1 hour.
So, what is Curiosity’s speed (ie. 22.5 metres/day) expressed in units km/h (ie. kilometres per hour)?
First divide distance by 1000: so 22.5 m= 22.5 x 0.001 = 0.0225 km. Now divide by 24 : so 0.0225km ÷ 24 = 0.0009375 km/h