WELCOME TO THE CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTER

Grades: 5 to 12

Return to the Moon logo. The year is 2015. For the first time since 1972, a crew of astronauts is returning to the Moon, this time to stay. The goal of the mission is to establish a permanent base on the moon for three reasons:

1. for observational purposes
2. for exploration, in order to determine the feasibility of developing a self-sustaining off-planet settlement.
3. as a stepping stone for human planetary exploration.

The mission begins with the spacecraft in Earth’s orbit. The crew aboard the spacecraft will leave Earth’s orbit and travel to the Moon. During the course of the mission the crew will build and launch a probe to the lunar surface, recover a probe that is stranded in space, repair the damaged probe, and determine the best site for the establishment of the lunar base.

It is costly and difficult to bring all the equipment and resources that would be needed to build a permanent base. Some resources must be available on the lunar surface for radiation protection, construction of additional habitats on the Moon, production of power for the base, and construction of spacecraft for future exploration.

Some information has been previously obtained from the potential lunar base sites. A detailed study has determined that the base must contain soils, metals, and helium. Rock and soil samples, soil composition, and seismic information have been gathered by previous missions from the potential sites. Experiments on soil and rock samples from other possible sites must be performed in order to determine the best site for the lunar base.

At the conclusion of a successful flight, the crew members on this Challenger Center mission, Return to the Moon, will have plotted an orbit and traveled to the Moon, rescued and repaired space probes, and gathered important data about lunar base sites. They will have gained experience in communications, analyzing data, and working closely as a team. Together the crew will place their spaceship into lunar orbit and make the important decision of the location of the first permanent lunar base.