Scouts Virtual Wednesday Astronautics – Mars Lander Experiment

Hello!
This week is very hands on, and finishes off some more of the ‘Astronautics’ activity badge we did earlier in the year (if you recall, we watched videos, threw rocks into sand, threw power balls into jelly etc. If you missed that bit, or joined recently, I can send those things out as ‘homework’ so you can get the badge as well)
Some of these activities will also work towards the ‘Science’ activity badge
You will need to gather the following things together:
– For the ‘Mars Lander’ – the aim is to conduct an experiment to reliably and consistently land an object on a target, like scientists trying to land the Mars Lander on Mars.
You will need –
string of some kind,
paper clips,
paper or other disposable cup, or otherwise cheap lightweight receptacle that you can modify and no one cares much about.
A target – you can draw one on a piece of paper. This goes on the floor, and is your landing site
A small object which serves as your lander – like a marble, or lego man, which will fit in or can be attached to, your cup
You may want to gather a few other things like sellotape, scissors etc, spare card.
I have used the NASA educational resources to come up with this week, you can see the video and information sheet here:
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/on-target/