Mission to Mars

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Mission to Mars is a daylong space science experience for Year 9 and 10 students. Students work as a team and use all their problem solving skills to successfully complete their Mission. During the day all students act as Astronauts, Mission Controllers and Research Scientists.

Mission Control Officers are responsible for the safety of the astronauts and success of the scientific mission on the Mars surface. From Mission Control they monitor the astronauts’ vital signs and spacesuit functions, as well as the environmental conditions on Mars and solar activity.

Astronauts don spacesuits, collect their equipment, depressurise in the Airlock, and step out onto the Martian surface. Students collect real soil and rock samples, drill an ice core, conduct a thermal survey and undertake a seismic experiment.

After their return to Earth, students analyse their samples and undertake further scientific investigations in the Research Laboratory.

Mission to Mars is designed to be integrated into the Victorian Secondary School curriculum and complies with VELS guidelines. The program is supported by a pre-mission training program and a debriefing program after your class returns.

NEW! The Phoenix Spacecraft landed on Mars in May 2008 and the mission was declared concluded in November 2008. During this time Phoenix continued the search for water on Mars and collected information that would help scientists understand the weather on Mars. In response to Phoenix’s discoveries the VSSEC Mars surface has been updated to include a water ice deposit. Students also construct a weather station to collect data for analysis back at school. In the laboratory students use the Infrared Spectrometer to analyse rock and soil samples collected on Mars.

Min students per mission: 12

Max students per mission: 24

$100 deposit required to secure booking

Cost: $38 plus GST per student (Victorian students), $60 plus GST per student (interstate students) and $120 plus GST per student (international students).

Price includes pre-mission training program, post-mission debriefing, lunch, all materials used during the program and the use of flight and astronaut suits.

Book a FREE Engineer for your classroom

VSSEC and Engineers Australia have come together to provide passionate engineering mentors to work with students during their mission preparation.

The Engineers in Schools Program was established by Engineers Australia, to help students and teachers discover what a career in engineering can offer by bringing professional engineers together with students in the classroom. To ensure students and teachers get the maximum benefit from this program, VSSEC and Engineers Australia, have joined forces to combine passionate engineers and best practice in science education. VSSEC has trained the engineers in strategies for effective science teaching and how to demonstrate the principles of engineering using the pre-mission activities from VSSEC’s Mission to Mars, MOSL, and Robotic Mission to Mars programs. We encourage you to  take advantage of this program and book an engineer when you book your mission.

Download a flyer or contact Sandra Perrett at Engineers Australia to request an engineer 9321 1725 or SPerrett@engineersaustralia.org.au