Views and Missions in Space

Students will be able to:

• Become familiar with mass spectroscopy, a common instrument aboard NASA missions
• Compare the Viking and MSL-Curiosity missions in terms of advances in technology

This learning module is meant for adaptation in an introductory earth science course and/or planetary science course. Students will only need prior basic knowledge of Mars to understand the significance of sophisticated technology.

Compiled In-Class Activities and Homework

• Instructor Version (Acrobat (PDF) 378kB Nov20 16)
• Student Version (Acrobat (PDF) 224kB Nov20 16)

In-Class Activity

• In-Class Activity 1: Measuring the Tiny
  
• Student Version (Acrobat (PDF) 199kB Nov20 16); Instructor Version (Acrobat (PDF) 359kB Nov20 16)

Homework/Lab

• Homework 1: Viking vs. MSL-Curiosity
• Student Version (Acrobat (PDF) 215kB Nov20 16); Instructor Version (Acrobat (PDF) 369kB Nov20 16)
  

1. Homework 1 may be used as an In-Class Activity if desired.
2. If your institution has a mass spectrometer in-house, schedule a visit for the class to view the instrument. Most lab mass spectrometers are at least 10x's bigger than spectrometers used on rovers and/or satellites orbiting Mars.

Each In-Class Activity and Homework set has its own measure of assessment/evaluation.

1. Image File: Views and Missions in Space (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 2.1MB Nov5 13)
   
2. Mass Spectrometer YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L4U6ImYSj0
3. Viking Mission Documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggjD3i7efKU
4. Curiosity Rover trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNVZ6cJYYcY
5. MSL Curiosity 7 minutes of terror: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2I8AoB1xgU