Space Exploration on Mars: An Adventure for Young Explorers
Educational and Fun Activities
Written by Gregg Payne
20 September 2024
🕓 4 min
Mars, the Red Planet, has always captured the imagination of explorers and scientists alike. With numerous missions sent to study its surface, and talk of humans one day living on Mars, this mysterious planet has become one of the most exciting frontiers in space exploration. For young explorers, learning about Mars is like embarking on an epic space adventure full of fascinating discoveries. Let’s take a journey to Mars and explore what makes this planet so special!
1. Why is Mars So Fascinating?
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and one of Earth’s closest neighbours. Although it’s smaller than Earth, it has similar features, such as mountains, valleys, and polar ice caps. However, its reddish appearance, thin atmosphere, and frigid temperatures make it a very different place from our home planet.
Here are a few things that make Mars so fascinating:
- The Red Colour: Mars gets its red hue from iron oxide (rust) on its surface. This has earned it the nickname "The Red Planet."
- Olympus Mons: Mars is home to the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, which stands at a towering 13.6 miles (22 km) high—almost three times the height of Mount Everest!
- Potential for Life: One of the most exciting questions scientists are trying to answer is whether Mars ever supported life. Evidence of ancient rivers, lakes, and oceans suggests that water once flowed on the surface, making it a prime candidate for studying the possibility of past life.
2. Space Missions to Mars
Over the years, several space missions have been sent to explore Mars. These missions have provided us with valuable information about the planet’s climate, geology, and potential to support life. Here are a few notable missions:
- Viking 1 and Viking 2 (1976): These were the first successful Mars landers, and they sent back the first images of the Martian surface.
- Curiosity Rover (2012): Curiosity has been exploring the surface of Mars since 2012, searching for signs that the planet might once have supported life.
- Perseverance Rover (2021): Perseverance is currently exploring Mars, collecting samples and testing new technology for future human missions. It’s also accompanied by the first helicopter to fly on another planet, Ingenuity.
Learn more about space exploration by checking out our post The Amazing world of Sound: Discoveries Kids Can Look Forward To! and explore how space technologies are evolving.
3. Could Humans Live on Mars?
One of the most exciting ideas about Mars is the possibility that humans could one day live there. Scientists and engineers are working on plans to make this dream a reality, but living on Mars would be very different from living on Earth.
Here are some of the challenges humans would face on Mars:
- Thin Atmosphere: Mars has a very thin atmosphere, so there isn’t enough oxygen for humans to breathe. Scientists are exploring ways to produce oxygen from the carbon dioxide in Mars’ atmosphere.
- Cold Temperatures: Mars is a cold planet, with average temperatures around -60°C (-80°F). Future astronauts would need special suits and heated habitats to survive.
- Low Gravity: Mars has only about 38% of Earth’s gravity, so everything would weigh much less. This might be fun at first, but it could cause health issues for humans in the long term.
4. Fun Mars Activities for Young Explorers
Here are a few fun activities you can try at home to learn more about Mars:
1. Build Your Own Mars Rover
Use recycled materials like cardboard boxes, straws, and plastic caps to create your own Mars rover. Talk about the different tools a rover might need to explore Mars, like cameras, robotic arms, and wheels for travelling over rough terrain.
2. Design a Mars Colony
Grab some paper and coloured pencils and design your own Mars colony! Where would people live? How would they get food and water? This is a fun way to get creative while thinking about the challenges of living on another planet.
3. Mars Rover Landing Simulation
Simulate how a Mars rover lands by creating parachutes using plastic bags and small objects like action figures. Drop them from a height and observe how the parachutes slow the fall, similar to how rovers land on Mars.
4. Mars Sand Tray
Fill a tray with red sand or flour dyed with red food colouring, and create your own Mars landscape. You can add small mountains, craters, and valleys to mimic the Martian surface, then let your toy rover explore!
Final Thoughts
Mars represents the next great frontier in space exploration. With its intriguing geology, potential for past life, and the possibility of human colonisation, the Red Planet is full of exciting mysteries and opportunities for discovery. By engaging children in activities related to space exploration, you can inspire the next generation of astronauts and scientists who may one day walk on Mars themselves!
If your child enjoys space exploration and hands-on science, check out our Science of Sound holiday camps. Our camps provide fun, interactive activities that introduce children to the wonders of science, technology, and exploration. Find out more about our upcoming camps here and inspire your child’s curiosity today!
