Supplies: Sphero, Ipad or Chromebook, “Mars”, meter stick, masking tape

MISSION OBJECTIVE: Additional supplies are desperately needed by our brave inhabitants of Mars Base Alpha. Can your Sphero Reentry Team (SRT) located at Mission Control on Earth create a code to bring the needed supplies safely spiraling down to the surface of Mars? A trajectory too shallow or fast will whip Spheronik IV around Mars and hurl it into deep space losing it forever. An orbit that is too slow or steep will send the ship crashing into the surface endangering our colonists. Can you and your team write an inward spiraling code to bring the approaching supply vessel safely to the Martian surface? Once you have the coded “flight plan,” you must transmit the JavaScript code to the Martian Base Commander, Bruno, so that his team may input the final approach settings.

Set Up:Grab a partner or two. This will be your SRT (Sphero Reentry Team). With the masking tape, mark a starting location on the carpet for your Sphero satellite - Spheronik IV. Measure and mark the location of Mars 1 meter away.

Reentry:

Collapsing OrbitsResearch:What keeps satellites in orbit? Do satellites ever fall back to earth? What makes a satellite spin out of control and head toward earth? How do scientists predict where the impact will occur?

Martian Mission 9:

Manipulating the variables within the sample "Spiral" code found on the SpheroEDU APP, come up with a code to simulate a collapsing orbit. Can your team write a code that will cause Spheronik IV to touch down on Mars? Your Sphero (Spheronik IV) should spiral around Mars in a shrinking orbit several times before finally colliding with it. Record your JavaScript “flight plan” below. To avoid the infamous quote, “Houston, we have a problem …,” remember to aim and test your code multiple times in the hallway to ensure that it works consistently prior to attempting your actual mission room landing.

Extra Challenge:Now, measure and move Mars 2 meters away from your starting satellite location marking its new location on the carpet. Rewrite your spiral code. Good Luck!

JavaScript Flight Plan transmission: _________________________________________ ________________________________________

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Mars Commander, Bruno, is counting on you!