Mission To Vega
We received the below message via a tweet on 20th March 2014. Both schools were in the middle of lessons when the lesson was interrupted with this task and video from the alien. We immediately contacted each other through video conferencing and began working together on the task set. Here is a link to what we did that day.
URGENT**Mission to Vega**URGENT
If you are reading this then you received my message via twitter.
Cwmclydach and Rabbsfarm
I need your help urgently.
I have a challenge for you. I need your help as I know you are good at solving problems and working out science investigations.
I need you to work as engineers for me and it is your job to find a way of safely landing delicate instruments on my planet.
At the moment my spacecraft cannot land on the planet due to a broken flux capacitor but can hover about 2 metres above.
My people need these instruments ASAP.
You will need to use as little material as possible for your lander and parachute.
As my delicate instruments are under my secret guard then you can use these strange chicken eggs that you have on earth to test your ideas.
Now what is my planet like? Well it has a similar atmosphere to you and has gravity just like you on earth.
This is TOP SECRET but as long as you do not show anybody else, below is a snippet of what my planet looks like.
Remember don't show anyone!
Cwmclydach and Rabbsfarm
I need your help urgently.
I have a challenge for you. I need your help as I know you are good at solving problems and working out science investigations.
I need you to work as engineers for me and it is your job to find a way of safely landing delicate instruments on my planet.
At the moment my spacecraft cannot land on the planet due to a broken flux capacitor but can hover about 2 metres above.
My people need these instruments ASAP.
You will need to use as little material as possible for your lander and parachute.
As my delicate instruments are under my secret guard then you can use these strange chicken eggs that you have on earth to test your ideas.
Now what is my planet like? Well it has a similar atmosphere to you and has gravity just like you on earth.
This is TOP SECRET but as long as you do not show anybody else, below is a snippet of what my planet looks like.
Remember don't show anyone!
I have been thinking about what items you earthlings could use.
Some things could be:
cardboard
balloons
polythene bags
ice-lolly sticks
rubber bands
cotton wool balls
tape
cardboard
scrap paper sheets
Think about the speed of your lander just before it hits the floor.
Also think about the distance it will move on, after it begins to touch the floor.
You will need to:
Testing rules:
I need you to then let me know your results as soon as you can as my people need these instruments quickly. You can tweet me your progress and results.
Good Luck to both schools and remember you need to work together.
Some things could be:
cardboard
balloons
polythene bags
ice-lolly sticks
rubber bands
cotton wool balls
tape
cardboard
scrap paper sheets
Think about the speed of your lander just before it hits the floor.
Also think about the distance it will move on, after it begins to touch the floor.
You will need to:
- Work together across schools on the different stages
- Plan your design
- Involve each person in the team
- Think carefully about what you will use
- Choose the best ideas and draw your design
- Build it
- Explain why it will work as you intend
Testing rules:
- You are allowed to hold the parachute open to start.
- The egg must be 2 metres above the floor when you let go.
I need you to then let me know your results as soon as you can as my people need these instruments quickly. You can tweet me your progress and results.
Good Luck to both schools and remember you need to work together.