Mars Lander Engineering Challenge
Land your astronaut safely on Mars!
Mars' atmosphere is about 1% as thick as Earth's, so a parachute alone won't save the crew. Pairs test parachutes, crumple zones and airbags, build helicopter rotors for thin Mars air and find out why astronaut gloves make simple jobs hard. Every pair gets a drop, a redesign and a second drop, just like real mission engineers.
Years 3–6 + HPGE
Hands-on
Investigations
Inquiry Based
Primary School Workshops
Customise
Your
Experience
What's In Mars Lander Engineering Challenge?
A hands-on workshop about engineering a safe landing: how can we land safely on another planet? Every student investigates with a challenge card matched to your stage.
Every session opens with a mystery from mission control, and ends with the class testing whose lander brings its astronaut down safely.
Inside · pairs · fair test
Inside · pairs
Inside · pairs
Inside · pairs
Inside · pairs
Inside · pairs · finale
Year Levels
Years 3–6 + HPGE
Duration
60 or 90 minutes
Group Size
Up to 32
Price (incl GST)
$690 (60 min)
$21.56 per student
$790 (90 min)
$24.69 per student
Differentiated challenge cards matched to your class
Choose experiences to match your class interests
Predict, test, observe and explain
THE CRAZY SCIENTIST DIFFERENCE
Multiple Investigations. Learning Matched to Every Stage
Differentiated challenges and syllabus-connected learning across the workshop.
Explore the learning at your stage.
Stage 2 — Mars Lander Engineering Challenge
Stage 2 cards challenge students to slow a falling lander safely and improve their design after every drop.
Relevant NSW Science & Technology outcomes (2024)
Every group works from a Stage 2 challenge card written for these outcomes.
✓ ST2-DDT-01 — Design is a process of creating and innovating
Build, test and evaluate a designed model
✓ ST2-SCI-01 — The Sun is the centre of our solar system and provides our world with energy
Demonstrate that gravity is a force of attraction between objects and Earth
See the Science in Action
LEARNING BEYOND THE WOW
What Students learn & How We Support Teachers
What Your Students Will Learn
Explain how gravity and air resistance affect a falling object
Fair-test parachute size against fall time
Combine design solutions to meet a brief
Use test results to improve a design
Differentiated challenges and syllabus-connected learning across the workshop.
Differentiated challenges and syllabus-connected learning across the workshop.
How we support teachers
Challenge cards for every stage, used by
students during the session.
Classroom follow-up experiments to keep the learning going
Risk assessment, Working With Children Check and public liability insurance details, sent before your visit
Thinking skills students practise
READY TO BOOK?
Workshop Requirements & Bookings
Everything You Need to Know
Up to 32 students per session
Group Size
60 minutes
Session Time
A classroom with tables for 16 pairs. Everything runs inside.
Space & Setup
All materials, equipment, safety glasses and stage challenge cards.
What we Provide
“Want something to take home? Ask about our take-home extras when you enquire.”
Enquire About This Workshop
30+ Years Teaching Science
Experienced science teacher designing activities that keep children engaged, involved and learning.
We Bring Everything
Experiments, equipment and materials come with us — you just provide the space and the kids.
Tailored to Your School
Activities are adjusted to suit your class’s stage
Fast Availability Reply
Tell us your preferred date and we’ll get back to you with availability, packages and suitable extras.
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