The Mission Process

Welcome Search and Rescue Space Explorers!

We are pleased to have you on board for this important mission.

The missing astronauts are relying on you; the people of Earth are relying on you! Are you ready to begin your fifteen step search and rescue mission??

 Hints for a successful mission:

Make sure you read all of the information in each step. This will ensure that you will complete this mission successfully. Complete each step before you move onto the next step of your mission.

In your Log Book you need to document your journey. This will include researching the following information for all the space elements you come across. You will need to include the planets colour, size, rotation, revolution, if it has any moons, atmosphere, composition, location, surface, temperature, distinguishing features, and if any life is sustainable on the planet.  To remind you, this list of information is also in your log book so you can refer back to it as often as you like. 

 If you need to look up what the different words are, all key words used in this Solar System WebQuest are explained in the glossary.  

Remember if you click on a link (marked with a coloured and underlined word) and it takes you to a different site or document, then you have to click 'back' using the blue left arrow in the top left hand corner to get back to the Solar System WebQuest.

 The first step in the mission is below.

 

 

 Step One- Preparing your log book

Once you have decided on your partner for this challenge, you are required to locate and print your Log Book for this mission.

The Log Book can be found by clicking here. Once you have printed the Log Book you need to staple the pages together, making sure you have them in the correct order. Ask your Space Commander (teacher) for help if you need it.

You are required to document your flight path, and take notes on the various planets and other space elements in this Log Book as you come across them during the mission.

This log will be used by the Space Commander (your teacher) to assess the success of your mission, and the quality of your work. If you haven't looked at the Rubric before now, and would like to, go to the evaluation page or click here. The Space Commander is part of Mission Control and remains on Earth during your mission, but will be available to support you throughout the time you are in space.

 

Step Two- preparing your space craft and equipment

You and your fellow Space Explorer need to work together and be able to make some decisions on the spacesuit, space craft and equipment and supplies you are going to take with you on your mission and document these into your Log Book.

1.

Both of you are required to be fitted out with the appropriate spacesuit for your adventure into space. Do you know why you need a spacesuit? Do you know what a spacesuit is made from? Do you know what the different parts are that make up the suit? Do you know what the proper name for a spacesuit is? 

You can find out about spacesuits by using the clickable spacesuit program. An information sheet that you will need for your Log Book which details why Astronauts need spacesuits and identifies the different parts of spacesuits can be found here. If you want to look at some more information, this website on spacesuits is useful, and can be found by clicking here.

After you have looked at the different information about spacesuits, you can fill in the names of the different parts of your space suit in your Log Book.

2.

 Next you need to view and select a suitable space craft for your mission. There are a number of different spacecraft, but only one kind that is designed to be able to launch astronauts into space. These are called Space Shuttles. Space Shuttles often take other spacecraft into space for the purpose of exploration of planets. These spacecraft are carried in the cargo area of the Space Shuttle.

 Here is an interactive site that will show you some of NASA's different space shuttles that are used as part of their Space Transport System (STS).

Do you know the different components of a space shuttle? Click here to go to a clickable space shuttle site!

Do you want to know more about Space Craft? Or do you want to find out more about Space Shuttles? You can find out how they work, the different parts, and the different types by clicking here,

To see an interactive shuttle flight path plan and the stages of a mission click here.

For your Log Book you are required to research and find a picture of your chosen space shuttle, print the picture of the space shuttle and glue it into your log book. You can use the picture to the left, any of the sites above to find an image, or even go to the Google Search Engine which also can be used to find other images if you wish. The Google results for 'Space Shuttle image' are here.. To print a picture, right click on the image and press 'print picture'.

After printing you need to cut out, and paste your selected image into your Log Book, and label the different parts of your Space Shuttle. You also need to give your Space Shuttle a name, and document in your Log Book.

Some examples of some space craft names and the year they were launched, for you to use as ideas for naming your Space Shuttle can be found here.

Don't forget this is a joint mission! You need to work and make decisions together with your partner; taking turns in controlling your Space Shuttle (the computer) and in documenting the mission in the Log Book.

3.

Next you need to work together and decide what would you take with you. You need to select a supply of food, clothing and personal items you wish to take on your mission into space.

You need to document at least 5 items each of food, clothing and personal items you have chosen, in your Log Book. Remember the amount of space available on the Shuttle is limited, so you have to think very carefully about the personal items you select.

Do you wonder what life in space is like? What astronauts eat? Where they sleep? What they do during their time in space? You can find out more by visiting the Jaxa Space Station for kids by clicking here.

Food: If you want to find out more about eating in space, NASA's website will tell you more about food- click here.  The list of available foods for astronauts can be can be found here. You need to write at least 5 items of food you selected in your Log Book.

Clothing: If you want to find out more about clothing taken into space, the NASA website will tell you more- click here. Write at least 5 items of clothing you would want to take with you into your Log Book.

Personal Items: Astronauts are allowed to take a small                                       number of personal items with them into space which can include things like books, photographs of friends and family, music, and a camera. Some astronauts have taken things like a harmonica and bells, cards, games, teddy bear, or even a flag. What would you take with you? You need to record 5 items into your Log Book.

 

Step Three- Preparing for launch.

Your space craft is now ready for launch, you have completed your astronaut training, and you now have been given the 'go for launch' clearance. You need to prepare for launch, and set your flight path.

View the last message Mission Control received from the missing explorers during their launch by clicking here. You can listen to a real NASA launch sequence by clicking the blue sound image button below, once you have finished click the cross in the top right hand corner of the window to close the audio.

From the message we recieved from the astronauts, you can see the first planet the missing astronauts intended to visit was Mercury, and as this our last communications from the missing discovery team, your search and rescue mission will begin here.

Have a look at the planet diagram of the Solar System.

You will see that Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. Using the diagram as a guide, you need to record the names of the planets in your Log Book, in the flight path section.  Put a cross at Earth to mark it as your starting position. Then draw an arch or dotted line to Mercury, this becomes your flight path.

At Mission Control, you are farewelled by your classmates, friends and family who are here to watch the launch of your Space Shuttle into space.

You now climb aboard your Space Shuttle ready to launch into space, heading towards Mercury.

Are you ready for launch??

After setting your flight plan for Mercury, you complete your pre-launch systems flight check, initiate the prelaunch countdown sequence, and you give the 'all systems go' call to Mission Control.

The countdown begins.....

 

 

You successfully achieve lift off, and you are on your way into outer space!!!

To arrive on Mercury you need to pass close to the sun. You are now required to document information on the sun as you fly past, but don't get too close or you'll burn up!!!

You have taken a picture of the sun, and this needs to also be cut and pasted into your log.

Search these locations for your information and picture of the Sun (or you can right click and press print picture on this one)

NASA  Here.                         Fact Monster   

Nine Planets                          

For the sun and all the planets you need to include the following information in your Log Book: colour, size, rotation, revolution, if it has any moons, atmosphere, composition, location, surface, temperature, distinguishing features, and if any life is sustainable on the planet. Once you have done that, your flight continues to Mercury.

You can view a clip of the real launch of Space Shuttle Discovery in 2006 by clicking the arrow on the video below.

 

Step Four- The Search and Rescue begins.

You arrive safely on Mercury, and are asked to make contact with your space commander (teacher) on your progress.

Once you have made contact, you need to explore Mercury and search for any sign of the missing astronauts. You need to document the information of your planet and include a picture of Mercury that you find, in your log book.

You can find a picture (or right click on this one and press print picture) and the information you need by visiting the following sites:

 NASA                                      Fact Monster

Nine Planets                              Hot Chalk                                          

Once you have explored the planet Mercury, you realise the missing explorers are no longer here. You have found a note left by the explorers which details their next destination. This can be viewed here.

Once you know where you have to go next, don't forget to mark it into your log by drawing a arch or dotted path from Mercury to your next planet. You are then to launch into space, heading towards the next planet.

 

Step Five

You have arrived safely on the planet Venus, and you need to continue to search for any sign of the missing astronauts.

During your exploration of Venus, you need to find and document all the information about the planet, and include a picture of the planet in your Log Book.

The information and picture can be found by visiting the following sites:

NASA here                            Fact Monster

Nine Planets                          HotChalk

Unfortunately no sign, other than yet another note, is found from the missing team of  explorers during your search of Venus.

The note from the missing astronauts can be viewed here.

After reading the note, you find out the missing astronaut discovery teams next destination.

Don't forget to plot this path in your Log Book by drawing a arch or dotted line to the next planet.

You need to prepare your craft to launch into space, with the next planet as your destination.

 

 Step Six

 As you head for the destination Mars, you have to fly past your home planet- Earth!Although you are not required to stop and land on Earth, you are requested to document the planet and take a picture as you rocket past.

Document all the information you find out about Earth into your Log Book, and don't forget to include a picture (you can right click this one and press 'print picture' if you wish).

The information you need can be found at the following sites:

NASA here                           Fact Monster

Nine Planets                          HotChalk

You are to continue past Earth to your next destination- Mars..

 

Step Seven

Once you have landed safely on Mars, you are to search the planet for any sign of the missing astronauts, and write your notes in the Log Book.

Find out and note all the details of your exploration of the planet Mars. The information you need can be found at the following sites:

NASA here                  Fact Monster

Nine Planets                 HotChalk

 Don't forget to include a photo of Mars in your Log Book too.

Remember to share and take turns of the control of the Space Shuttle (the computer), and the journaling in your Log Book with your fellow space explorer!!

Although you find no sign of the missing explorers after an extensive exploration of Mars, you did manage to find another note left from the missing astronaut discovery team. You can view the note here.

Once you have read the note you find out the next destination of the explorers, you need to prepare your craft and crew to continue your search and rescue mission.

Document your flight path and destination in your Log Book by drawing an arch or dotted line from Mars to the next planet, before you launch into space again.

 

Step Eight

Just after leaving Mars you notice a strange phenomena coming toward you at great speed.

You suddenly realise you have hit the Asteroid Belt- look out!!!!

Quickly you navigate around the Asteroid Belt successfully, breathing a sigh of relief as you watch it disappear into the darkness behind you.

You need to document the location you came across the Asteroid Belt in the flight path map section of your Log Book by drawing a small picture of the Asteroid belt in between Mars and Jupiter. You also need to document all the details of the Asteroid Belt in Step 8 in your Log Book, including a picture. The information and photo you will need can be found at the following sites (or right click on the picture to use this one and press 'print picture'):

 NASA here                          Nine Planets 

 Once you have finished your entry into the Log Book you can continue on your mission to Jupiter.

 

Step Nine

You gladly land on Jupiter, happy to avoid that close call with the Asteroid Belt. Phew!!

You need to continue your search for the missing astronauts by exploring the planet Jupiter. Note down all the information you find out about the planet in your Log Book, including a picture of the planet.

The information and photo can be found at the following sites:

NASA here                          Fact Monster

Nine Planets                         HotChalk

After searching the planet Jupiter, you realise that still no sign of the missing astronauts can be found. You did locate another note during your exploration of Jupiter though. The note can be viewed here.

The note gives you your next destination, and you prepare for launch again. Make sure you plot your destination on your flight path map by drawing an arch or dotted line from Jupiter to the next planet. You now launch into space again.

 

Step Ten 

You arrive safely on the ringed planet- Saturn. Here you are required to make contact with your Space Commander (teacher) before you begin your exploration and search of the planet.

Don't forget to take turns with your crew in controlling the Space Shuttle (the computer) and filling in the Log Book.

One you have made contact with your Space Commander, you can begin your search of Saturn for the missing explorers, filling in your Log Book with the details of all the information you find out about Saturn.

The information you need can be found at the following sites:

NASA here                           Fact Monster

Nine Planets                           HotChalk

You and your crew search Saturn, and it is not until you are returning to your Space Shuttle a little discouraged, before you find another note from the missing astronaut discovery team. The note can be viewed here.

Once you have read the note, you know where your next destination will be. Don't forget to document your flight path and destination in your Log Book by drawing an arch or dotted line from Saturn to the next planet.

You prepare your craft for launch into space again.

Step Eleven

After you launch into space, with your next destination as Uranus, you see a strange object in space.

You realise it is a Comet!!!

You need to navigate the Space Shuttle safely around the Comet avoiding a collision!

You are required to document this in your Log Book. NASA information and a picture can be viewed here, or you can right click and press 'print picture' to print the picture on the right.

 Don't forget to note all the information and distinguishing features of the Comet, and include a picture of the Comet into your log in Step 11.  You also need to write the location of the Comet into your flight path section of your Log Book by drawing a small picture where you came across the Comet in space.

After you successfully navigate around the Comet, and complete the documentation you continue on your journey to Uranus.

 

Step Twelve

You arrive safely on Uranus, and begin your search for any sign of the mission astronaut discovery team.

You are required to enter all the information you have discovered about Uranus into your Log Book, don't forget to include a picture. You can use this picture if you like by right clicking and selecting 'print picture'.

Some information on Uranus can be found at the following sites:

NASA here                            Fact Monster

Nine Planets                           Hot Chalk           

You and your fellow Space Explorer continue the search for the missing astronauts. You do not locate the missing astronauts on Uranus but you do find a note from the missing astronauts very quickly after you begin your search, which you can view here.

From this note you can now determine what the next destination of the missing crew was. After writing this information into the flight path map of your Log Book, by drawing an arch or dotted line from Uranus to the next planet, you finish your exploration of the Uranus before returning to your Space Shuttle.

Knowing Uranus is the second last planet of the Solar System, you determine that this next planet could be the final location of the missing astronaut discovery team. You launch into space, excited to be so close to finally rescuing the astronauts and completing your mission!

Step Thirteen

You have reached the final planet in our Solar System- Neptune. You and your crew are growing tired from your long mission in space.

You begin your search for the missing crew, excited, thinking that this is where you would finally locate the missing astronauts.

You need to document all the information you discover about Neptune into your Log Book., including a picture (you can use the one here by right clicking and selecting 'print picture'). The information you need can be found at the following sites:

NASA here                           Fact Monster

Nine Planets                           Hot Chalk

Alas, despite an extensive and exhaustive search you do NOT find any sign of the missing explorer team. You do NOT even find a note. You and your crew realise that the explorer team had not arrived on Neptune at all.

What are you going to do now? Where could the missing astronauts be?

After discussing the problem with your crew, you realise that there is one final place the missing team could still be. A dwarf planet- Pluto is located after Neptune. Although no longer deemed a normal planet in our Solar System, Pluto is still a possibility for the location of the missing astronaut discovery crew.

Do you want to find out when Pluto was no longer considered a planet, and why? Visit Universe Today site here  or Fact Monster site here.

You need to make contact with your Space Commander (teacher) to tell them of your change in plans, giving your new proposed flight plan. Document this in your Log Book by drawing an arch or dotted line from Neptune to Pluto in the flight plan map section.

You set off and launch into space for your final destination- Pluto.

 

Step Fourteen

You arrive safely on Pluto. As you vacate the space craft you immediately see signs of recent disturbances on the surface of Pluto. 

Could it be the missing explorers??

You set off on your exploration and search of Pluto, making sure to document all the information, including the picture of the Planet (you can use the picture to the right by right clicking and selecting print picture) in your Log Book. The information you need can be found at the following sites:

NASA here                            Fact Monster

 Nine Planets                                             Hot Chalk

As you navigate the terrain of the Pluto, you finally discover the missing crew!!! Yes!

The crew all seem healthy and safe as they greet you happily. They are glad to find out that you are here to locate them, and provide them with a replacement communications device.

The now located astronauts explain to you that their Space Shuttle veered off course when they launched from Uranus, and instead of landing on Neptune, ended up on Pluto by mistake!

You return to your Space Shuttle and hand the astronauts the new communications device, assisting them to contact Mission Control and their own Space Commander. You can hear the excitement over the device as everyone down at Earth, realises that you and your crew have successfully achieved your mission!

You hear your Space Commander over your own communications device say "Well done Space Explorers! We all thank you for a successful mission. You can return to Earth".

You say goodbye to your new astronaut friends, and prepare for your final launch into space with your destination as Earth. Home- finally!

In your excitement, don't forget to record this final leg of the journey in the flight plan section of your Log Book, by drawing a arch or dotted line from Pluto to Earth. You launch for the very last time into space.

Step Fifteen

 Uh oh! As you launch into space and clear Pluto you find you are heading directly into the flight path of a Meteor!!

You need to quickly alter your flight path to avoid a collision!!

Once you have successfully set a new flight path and avoided the catastrophe you need to indicate the location of the Meteor by drawing a small picture on your flight path map section in your Log Book. You also need to record the Meteor information in Step 15 in your Log Book. The NASA information and photo you need on Meteor's can be found here .

Thankful to have reacted so quickly, and avoided a collision with a Meteor you continue safely on your return journey to Earth.

 You land your Space Craft successfully on Earth, and exit the Space Shuttle to find yourself surrounded by your Space Commander, your class mates, friends and family. They all crowd around you to congratulate you on a successful mission and your safe return home.

 

Well done Space Explorers.

We salute you!!!

 

You still have one more task to do, before you give your Log Book to your Space Commander to assess the success of your mission, and the quality of your work. Click here to continue to the task evaluation.

After that you will be able to continue to explore our Solar System with some more exciting games and activities. These links are in the conclusion section of the WebQuest. 

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