Teachable Moment: NASA InSight Lander to Get First Look at ‘Heart’ of Mars
A spacecraft designed to study seismic activity on Mars, or “marsquakes,” is scheduled to lift off on a nearly seven-month journey to the Red Planet on May 5, 2018. NASA’s InSight Mars lander is designed to get the first in-depth look at the “heart” of Mars: its crust, mantle and core. In other words, it will be the Red Planet’s first thorough checkup since it formed 4.5 billion years ago. The launch, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Central California, also marks a first: It will be the first time a spacecraft bound for another planet lifts off from the West Coast. It’s a great opportunity to get students excited about the science and math used to launch rockets and explore other planets.
In the latest Teachable Moment from NASA/JPL Edu, education specialist Ota Lutz explains how the InSight mission will reveal Mars' inner workings and provide a window into how other rocky planets formed – including Earth! Teachers and parents can also find a collection of lessons and activities to get students exploring Mars like NASA scientists and engineers.
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Related Lessons and Resources for Educators
Use these standards-aligned lessons and activities to get your students engaged in Mars missions and science.
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