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OER Project Exchange… We’re going to Mars with Megan McGroarty and the Arizona State University Mars 2020 Mastcam-Z Team // April 12 - 14, 2021

Kathy Hays

Human beings are fascinated by what’s beyond our own planet, it always seems to pique our interests. The recent landing of the Mars rover, Perseverance has captivated our attention as we see and hear the incredible images and sounds coming from the planet. This event connects to so many OER Project course themes.  However, as a history teacher you may not be comfortable answering questions about space exploration. Never fear, we’ve brought in someone who can help with our April Exchange!  

The OER Project is honored to have and the Arizona State University Mars 2020 Mastcam-Z Team joining us April 12 – 14 to answer our questions on what’s happening with the Perseverance. This team designed one of the camera systems that’s sending all those amazing pictures back from Mars. Megan is a docent for the School of Earth and Space Exploration, providing tours and answering questions from community members about the Mars rover. She studies astrobiology and was attracted to this field because it incorporates so many fields of study, helping to bring everything together as we learn to understand the greater Universe.

We’ll start posting questions today, and the conversation will go “live” on April 12, but you can start posting your questions right now. We’ve got a bonus! We’re inviting you to have your students pose questions to Megan and Arizona State University Mars 2020 Mastcam-Z Team joining team. So start gathering those questions and post in the community. Let’s learn about the exploration of Mars together!

The ASU School of Earth and Space Exploration has provided resources that may be helpful to help students learn more about space exploration.

  • As we start our Exchange, NASA is getting ready to launch a helicoptor on Mars. Here's information if you want to share with your students.

    Join NASA for the very first flight if the Ingenuity Helicoptor 

    NASA is targeting no earlier than Sunday, April 11, for the first flight attempt. If the helicopter flies on April 11, as expected, the livestream will start at 3:30 a.m. EDT (12:30 a.m. PDT) Monday, April 12.

    Thursday, April 8 at 1:00 Eastern students can talk to experts about the helicoptor.

  • in reply to Kathy Hays

    Super excited about this!   Here's a batch of questions my students have:

    1. How do the camera's pictures get back to earth? How long does it take from the footage from the Rover to get back to earth?
    2. How long did it take you to make the camera?
    3. What got you interested in designing cameras? Why did you choose to make a camera for spacecraft?
    4. Does the camera have a battery? What is the power source that they use? What if it breaks, how will you fix it? Will the camera die?

  • Thank you so much for answering our questions! My students are so excited! Listed below are some of the questions my students have had so far: 

    1. How does the camera see through all the debris and dust on mars?
    2. how is the signal so good on the camera? And also, how do you even get the feed? Is it hooked up to your computers somehow?"
    3. What made you get into NASA and science?
    4. How much does it cost to send a rover to Mars?
    5. What made you become a NASA scientist?
    6. What is your inspiration to keep going every day?
    7. What are some tips for young scientists who wish to work at NASA?

  • The helicopter seems to be very popular in my social media feeds.  One thing that many people have been talking about is how much of a game changer it is to have the extra device for gathering information.  Can you expand on what it's role is in the mission and what new techniques were needed to ensure such a mobile device would be operational on another planet. 

  • My students are super excited about this amazing opportunity.  Here are some of the questions they have asked so far:

    1. How long did it take to build Perseverance, and did you run into any major problems in the building process?
    2. Has there been any evidence that shows that there might be life on Mars, or that life once existed on Mars?
    3. How much does Perseverance weigh, and was this the maximum amount that could be placed on the rocket that sent Perseverance into space?
    4. How will the soil samples get back to Earth, and what specifically are you looking for in these samples?
    5. How did you prep the cameras for the space flight and for touching down on Mars?
    6. If a camera were to fail, are there any ways for fixing it from Earth?
    7. Will Perseverance come back to Earth?
    8. What was the most difficult part of developing the camera system for Perseverance?
    9. How many prototypes did you go through in the creation of Perseverance?
    10. Was there anything that did not make it onto Perseverance that you would have liked to have seen?  If so, what was it?
    11. In terms of cost, what percentage of the total budget was spent on the cameras?
    12. Besides the cameras not turning on, what was your biggest fear for this mission?
    13. From the time the cameras snap a picture, how long does it take for the image to reach Earth?
    14. Can you explain how the images get from Mars to Earth?
    15. In your opinion, how close are we to putting a person or persons on Mars?

  • I'm curious about what the team is expecting to learn from this mission to Mars. What are the specific outcomes NASA is hoping for Perseverance?

  • Good Monday morning!  Our Exchange is now "Live"!  and members of the Mastcam-ZTeam from Arizona State University will be dropping in throughout the day between now and Wednesday to answer your questions on incorporating graphic biographies into your instruction. Drop your questions in the comments section below!

  • Megan, thanks so much for taking our questions! Here's what my students are wondering:

    1. How does the information from Mars get back to Earth? How is the location of Earth calculated in this process?

    2. How does the rover transmit large amounts of data?

    3. What are the limitations on sending large amounts of data and high-quality images back to Earth?

    4. Are there future plans or possibilities of sending rock samples, etc. back to Earth for analysis?

    5. In what ways is Perseverance different from the previous Mars rover?

  • More student questions coming in:                                                             Question1: What would you do if one of the rovers broke down on mars?

    Question2: What are ways you would send the rover to mars?
    Last but not least: How long did it take to build the rover?
  • in reply to Kathy Hays

    Mars 2020 Mission Goals are:

    1.) Geologic Exploration

    2.) Habitability and Biosignatures

    3.) Prepare a returnable cache

    4.) Prepare for human exploration