Popularly known as "the red planet," Mars has been a source of fascination for eons. Is there life on Mars? If not, has there been life on Mars in the past? Evidence of water would provide some clues to this mystery.
Advances in technology have made it possible to find ways to study Mars. For example, we have explored with telescopes and space probes. Unstaffed spacecraft (without humans) have landed on the surface to explore and collect data. We have taken photographs of the surface of Mars and analyzed the chemical composition of its atmosphere.
During 2003, Mars made its closest approach to Earth in 60,000 years. Because of that, a trip to Mars took about seven months. At other times, a spacecraft could take up to ten months to reach the red planet. To take advantage of this event, both the European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) sent spacecraft to orbit Mars. As of January 2005, both missions were still in operation.
Sometime in your lifetime, advances in technology may lead to a human mission to Mars. Why should we explore space? What might the benefits be?
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Your job in this WebQuest is to learn about space exploration, especially to the planet Mars. You will learn about past missions to Mars, as well as current and future missions. You will learn about the purpose of the missions and the types of data that have been collected. You will also find out about plans for future missions. Finally, you will answer questions to demonstrate what you have learned about space exploration.
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Read through the following questions. Then research the Internet sites that are listed after them. As you explore each site, look for answers to the questions. Keep a record of the sites where you find answers.
Questions about Missions to Mars
- Launched in 1964, Mariner 4 was the first robotic mission to make a successful flyby of Mars. It also returned photographs to Earth. What did the photos reveal?
- Not all Mars missions have succeeded. Name one mission that failed. State the mission goal and date of failure, and explain what went wrong.
- In 1997, the Pathfinder mission included the Sojourner rover, which explored the surface of Mars. Describe the types of data collected during the Pathfinder mission.
- What did the findings from the Pathfinder mission suggest about Mars?
- By December 2003, the ESA's Martian Express was in orbit and began returning images to Earth. Its lander, Beagle 2, did not make contact after it separated from the spacecraft. However, the Martian Express continued to send images and other data. What is the mission for the Martian Express?
- On January 2, 2005, NASA celebrated the first anniversary of Mars rover Spirit's landing on Mars. Spirit's robotic twin Opportunity, which landed after Spirit, was also still on the job. Find out the latest news about the rovers. Report your findings.
- What types of data from the missions launched in 2003 show evidence of water on Mars?
- The next NASA mission to Mars is the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. What will this mission do?
- Is research in space worth the resources used? Take a position for or against space research. Give at least one reason to support your answers.
- Choose a technology originally developed for space exploration that has affected your life or the life of someone you know. Describe the technology and the effect it has had.
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Look at the Web sites given here to find the information that will enable you to answer questions about space travel and missions to Mars.
- Satellites
and Robotic Spacecraft. This site provides
information about space exploration with satellites
and robotic spacecraft. For a history of Mars exploration,
click on A History of Unmanned Space Missions. You
will find a description of the robotic mission,
Mariner 4.
- Explore
Mars. This site has useful information
about the history of explorations of Mars. In the
first menu, select Robotic Missions. Then click
on Past Planetary Missions to Mars.
- Mars
Pathfinder. Visit this site to learn
about the Mars Pathfinder mission with the Sojourner
rover (a remote controlled robot vehicle). The spacecraft
carrying the rover landed on July 4, 1997. Find
out what the findings from the mission suggested
about Mars.
- Mars
Today. Go to this site for monthly
updates on missions to Mars. The Top Stories area
includes news stories about Mars rovers Spirit and
Opportunity, as well as the Martian Express spacecraft.
- ESA:
Mars Express. Learn about the Mars
mission launched by the European Space Agency (ESA)
on June 3, 2003.
- NASA:
Spirit and Opportunity. Go to this
site for the latest news on the Mars rovers Spirit
and Opportunity.
- NASA:
One Year on Mars. Explore this site
to follow the scientific adventures and discoveries
of the Mars rovers.
- NASA:
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Go to
this site for information about the next NASA mission
to Mars.
- BBC:
Are the Mars missions worth it? Visit
this site to learn more about both sides of the
debate on funding for missions to Mars.
- Space
Station Science. Why do research in
space? Go to this site for answers to this question.
- NASA:
How have advances in space technology helped us
on Earth? Go to this site for specifics
on the technological advances that space study has
helped us achieve.
- Inventions
from Space. This site describes technologies
or materials that were originally developed for
the U.S. space program.
- NASA
Space Place. Go to this site for games
and other fun activities related to space exploration.
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In the process of completing this WebQuest, you've become informed about missions to Mars and the types of data collected. You have also developed research skills as you explored the Web sites given. You have identified the relevant information to answer the given questions. Finally, you have thought out a position on the benefits of space exploration.
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