Mars Lander Challenge

STEM & The Engineering Design Process

Adapted from Vivify - https://www.vivifystem.com/blog/2017/4/30/the-best-stem-challenge-ever

Canadian Women In Space

Dr. Roberta Bondar Julie Payette Dr. Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons

​

​

Kristen Facciol

Aerospace Engineer - CSA/NASA

Holly Johnson

MDA Engineer

​

Natalie Panek - Aerospace Engineer (Exo Mars Rover, MDA)

Isabelle Tremblay

CSA, Lead Engineer, Phoenix Mars Lander, JWS Telescope

7 Minutes of Terror

Mars Lander Challenge

Using the Engineering Design Process plan and build a shock-absorbing lander to protect two “Marshmallow NASA Insight Instruments” during impact on Mars. Only the supplies available on the spacecraft can be used. The “instruments” are represented by two marshmallows that will travel in an upright plastic cup. Tape the plastic cup to the landing platform. The instruments require the plastic cup to be unobstructed. Your goal is to slow down the lander as it hits Mars so that the instruments remain safely inside the cup to be deployed for scientific observations of the Red Planet.

​

​

The Engineering Design Process

Materials

• Small Paper or Plastic Cup (3 oz)

• 10 miniature marshmallows

• 2 jumbo marshmallows as the aliens

• 6 index cards

• 6 plastic straws

• 1 piece of stiff paper or cardboard

• 6 popsicle sticks

• Roll masking tape

• Scissors

• String

Possible Extra Items:

• Magazines

• Newspapers

• Balloons

• Rubber bands (various sizes)

• Cotton balls

​

​

LANDER MISSION RULES

1. Attach the cup to the landing platform.

2. All building takes place underneath or along the edges of the top of the landing platform. No covering the cup.

3. Gently stack the marshmallows into the cup. Do not eat,

squish, or draw on them.

4. Use as many or as little supplies as needed for your design.

5. Your design must keep the marshmallows from jumping out

of the cup at a 1 ft and 2 ft height (shin and knee height).

​

Group Roles

• Project Manager: Keep the team on task and all members involved

• Materials Manager: Collects and manages supplies

• Engineer: Ensures the design and building fits within the project constraints

• Data Manager: Takes notes during the design process and records testing data.

​

​

Timeframe

Intro - 15 min

Plan - 5 min

Build - 15 min

Test - 5 min

Rebuild - 5 min

Re-test - 5 min

Clean Up - 5 min

GSites - 10 min

​

Reflection

1. Compare your design to the other team designs. What are some similarities? What are some differences?

2. If you could have any materials in the world, what would you add to your lander?

3. Why is failure important in the engineering design process?

4. Which material did you use the most in your final design? Why?

5. What was most frustrating about building your design? Why?

6. What was the most enjoyable part of the engineering challenge? Why?

​

​

Google Sites

Check out mine!

​

https://sites.google.com/gshare.blackgold.ca/green/teaching/girlsstem

​

Search “Mee Green Mars” and follow the links!