"Stranded on the Moon" Return to list of pracs

Aim: This activity uses background knowledge and intuitive judgements to order a set of equipment need if you are stranded on the moon.

OHP: The overhead is ...  

• Stranded on the Moon.

Method: You are a member of a space crew originally scheduled to rendezvous with a mother ship on the lighted surface side of the moon. Due to mechanical difficulties, however, your ship was forced to land at a spot some 200 lunar miles from the rendezvous point. During landing, much of the equipment aboard was damaged. Since survival depends on reaching the mother ship, the most critical items available must be chosen for the 200 lunar mile trip. Below are the 15 items intact and undamaged after landing. Your task is to rank them in the order they will be needed to reach the rendezvous point. Place "1" next to the most important item, through to "15" next to the least important item.

box of matches food concentrate 50 feet of nylon rope parachute silk portable heating unit 2 x 45 calibre pistols and bullets 1 case of dehydrated pet milk 2 x 100lb tanks of oxygen

map of Moon's stellar constellations life raft magnetic compass 5 gallons of water signal flares first aid kit solar-powered FM radio receiver-transmitter

Background knowledge: The actual answers according to NASA are the following: (oxygen to first aid kit to pistol to heating unit).

oxygen; 5 gallons of water; parachute silk to carry goods and items; food concentrate - to keep energy levels up; Moon map - no atmosphere to diffuse the light as on earth, therefore the stars awaken the immediate area of the sun that can still be seen. 5 feet of nylon rope; FM transceiver - radio signals go straight up; solar will only be good for 12 miles; first aid kit;

pistol - strong enough to act as a recoil to propel a person over crevasses, saving travelling time; life raft - use as a stretcher; dehydrated milk - you need water; signal flares - lighter side couldn't see; matches - would not light; compass - different magnetic field; heating unit - not enough oxygen.