Win the chance for your class to operate a Lunar Rover in a simulated mission. There will be Canadian rovers on the Moon by the end of this decade. Let’s Talk Science, Canadensys Aerospace, and Avalon Space have teamed up to give Canadian youth in Grades 6-9 the opportunity to learn about rover technology and how to plan missions on the Moon.
The Lunar Rover Research Challenge invites teams of students to pitch their mission plans for the chance to remotely operate a Canadensys rover in a lunar-like environment.
Welcome to the Lunar Rover Research Challenge!
The challenge is for students to design a rover mission to find frozen water at the South Pole of the Moon. The activity is structured as a collaborative board game or digital game where students are guided through the design process. They equip their rover with scientific instruments, choose a target, then determine where to take measurements.
The experience is designed around 5 lessons:
1: Learn about Canada’s role in the upcoming lunar missions and the benefits of space exploration to life on Earth
2: Review the mission brief and learn how to plan a rover mission on the Moon
3: Plan the mission using an iterative design process scaffolded as a collaborative board game
4: Communicate ideas and prepare for submission
5: Reflect on the team’s experience and the impact of space exploration on society
Set in the context of space exploration, this project develops students’ design thinking, teamwork, and communication skills. Students must design their research mission by considering pros and cons, and weighing risks and rewards.
This challenge can be completed without a submission to the competition.