Level 4: Into space and down to Mars

Rockets and landing · level 4 of 8 · rough age 11-12 (a guide for parents; anyone can start anywhere)

In this level you follow a real trip. You find where space begins and why getting to orbit is about speed, not height, then fly the seven months to Mars and live through the "seven minutes of terror" of a landing: heat shield, a parachute opening faster than sound, and rocket engines, down to the sky crane that set Perseverance on the ground.

Lesson	You will be able to
Where space begins	Say where space begins, and how the air thins with height on Earth and on Mars
Orbit is speed	Explain why reaching orbit takes far more speed than reaching space, and compare Earth and Mars
The trip to Mars	Describe the steps of a trip to Mars, how long it takes and why
Seven minutes	Follow every step of a Mars landing, with its speeds and times
Parachutes in thin air	Explain why Mars parachutes are so big, open so fast, and still cannot finish the job
Landing on rockets	Compare legs, airbags and the sky crane, and explain why each was chosen

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