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Space Exploration Connections

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Space Exploration Connections

You are part of a New Zealand student team preparing a space-exploration display for a school play. Read the mission notes, solve the challenges and explain how exploring space connects with life on Earth.

Mission notes

Earth has liquid water, a protective atmosphere and temperatures that support many forms of life. The Moon has almost no atmosphere and large temperature extremes. Mars is cold and has a thin atmosphere, but evidence shows that liquid water flowed there long ago. Studying these worlds helps scientists understand how planets change. Satellites in space also help people on Earth by supporting communication, weather monitoring and navigation. Space research can lead to useful new materials and tools, although not every invention linked to space was originally made for space travel.

A. Space-distance control room

The mission display uses large numbers. Round carefully and show what each value means.

1.A probe is 628,730,000 km from Earth. Round this distance to the nearest ten million kilometres.

2.A spacecraft travels at 39,600 km/h. Which is the speed rounded to the nearest thousand?

39,000 km/h
40,000 km/h
39,600 km/h

3.A Mars reading is −87.2°C. Round the temperature to the nearest whole degree Celsius.

B. Connection detective

Use the mission notes and your science knowledge to investigate links between space and Earth.

4.Select the two services that satellites directly support in everyday life.

Weather monitoring
Communication
Growing crops without sunlight
Making Earth's gravity weaker

5.Explain one way that comparing Mars with Earth can help scientists understand Earth's climate or history.

6.A Moon base could help prepare for journeys farther into space. Give one practical reason why.

7.True or false: The Moon's lack of a thick atmosphere means people there would need protection from the space environment.

TrueFalse

C. Plan a future mission

Think about what people would need to live safely beyond Earth, and how exploration might benefit people at home.

8.A proposed Mars settlement needs 847.64 tonnes of water each year. Round this amount to the nearest tenth of a tonne.

9.Name three essential things a Mars settlement would need to provide or recycle to support human life.

10.Write a short mission proposal: choose one problem people face on Earth, then explain how a satellite or space mission could help investigate or address it.