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Grades: 5 to 12
The
year is 2015. For the first time since 1972, a
crew of astronauts is returning to the Moon, this
time to stay. The
goal of the mission is to establish a permanent
base on the moon for three reasons:
1.
for
observational purposes
2.
for exploration, in order to determine the feasibility
of developing a self-sustaining off-planet settlement.
3.
as
a stepping stone for human planetary exploration.
The
mission begins with the spacecraft in Earth’s
orbit. The
crew aboard the spacecraft will leave Earth’s
orbit and travel to the Moon. During the
course of the mission the crew will build and
launch a probe to the lunar surface, recover a
probe that is stranded in space, repair the damaged
probe, and determine the best site for the establishment
of the lunar base.
It is costly and difficult to bring all the equipment
and resources that would be needed to build a
permanent base. Some resources must be available
on the lunar surface for radiation protection,
construction of additional habitats on the Moon,
production of power for the base, and construction
of spacecraft for future exploration.
Some information has been previously obtained
from the potential lunar base sites. A detailed
study has determined that the base must contain
soils, metals, and helium. Rock and soil
samples, soil composition, and seismic information
have been gathered by previous missions from the
potential sites. Experiments on soil and rock
samples from other possible sites must be performed
in order to determine the best site for the lunar
base.
At the conclusion of a successful flight, the
crew members on this Challenger Center mission,
Return to the Moon, will have plotted an orbit
and traveled to the Moon, rescued and repaired
space probes, and gathered important data about
lunar base sites. They will have gained
experience in communications, analyzing data,
and working closely as a team. Together
the crew will place their spaceship into lunar
orbit and make the important decision of the location
of the first permanent lunar base.
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