I found out this past weekend that the Mars Rover is landing on February 18, 2021.
According to Space.com, only "40% of all Mars surface missions have landed successfully." It will be very exciting to watch this week's landing.
I've rounded up some great learning resources that you can use this week leading up to the landing and even after the landing to learn more about space and the planets.
Online Resources About the Mars Rover Landing
Head over to Space.com to read all about the Mars Perseverance Mission and the rover's mission to actively look for signs of life on the planet. A mission that has never been attempted before!
Get a detailed look at the Perseverance Rover itself, complete with illustrations, videos, and some history of past rovers.
You don't want to miss all of the online programming coming up over the next few days, including specific programming for high school, middle school, and elementary school. Here's a quick rundown.
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Countdown to Landing for High School Students - 12:15 pm EST
Countdown to Landing for Middle School Students - 2:30 pm EST
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Countdown to Landing for Elementary School Students - 12:30 pm EST
Mission Landing Update - 1:00 pm EST
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Landing Day Live Stream for Students - 12:30 pm EST
LIVE Landing Broadcast (on numerous platforms) - 2:30 pm EST
There are also a number of post-landing news briefings scheduled as well as several archived recordings and interviews.
Finally, grab some Fact Sheets and Images on the Rover to study.
Learning Videos
Here are some YouTube learning videos on the history of space exploration and the steps it took to get where we are today.
After numerous space missions to put a man on the moon, it was finally accomplished on July 20, 1969, when Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong made that first walk on the moon. See the footage in this video:
Over the next 29 years, we imagined and engineered the International Space Station.
According to Space.com:
The International Space Station (ISS) is a multi-nation construction project that is the largest single structure humans ever put into space. Its main construction was completed between 1998 and 2011, although the station continually evolves to include new missions and experiments. It has been continuously occupied since Nov. 2, 2000.
Learn how the space station was built, what countries participating in its construction, and then take a walk through each module.
Take a tour through the entire International Space Station with your tour guide, Astronaut Sunita Williams.
Since we began living and working in space, Astronauts have continued to expand the limits of their curiosity. Now, we have reached Mars.
In this video, you'll get up close and personal with the team that landed a rover on Mars in 2012. Learn what it took to get there and how they did it.
Join Mark Rober as he explains the Who, What, When, Where, and How of the Perseverance mission.
Get a detailed explanation of the "7 Minutes of Terror" in this video.
Books to Read for the Mars Rover Landing
If you have Amazon Prime, you can still get these books in time for the landing! You can also find most of them at your local library.
The links below are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep this blog up and running! Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
The Mission Possible Mystery at Space Center Houston
by Carole Marsh
What could be more fun than learning about space and NASA through a mystery story! Description from Amazon: Blast off with Christina and Grant as they try to solve a mystery bigger than the state of Texas! On a trip with Mimi and Papa to Space Center Houston, the kids learn that a valuable moon rock has been stolen! Houston, we have a problem.
Space Exploration for Kids: A Junior Scientist's Guide to Astronauts, Rockets, and Life in Zero Gravity
by Bruce Betts, Ph.D.
From learning the history of space exploration and rockets to what life is like up there, this top choice among space books for kids 6-9 will inspire you to reach for the stars.
Awesome Space Tech: 40 Amazing Infographics for Kids
by Jenn Dlugos and Charlie Hatton
We live in a complicated cosmos, but this book breaks down the complex, the confusing, and the downright kooky to reveal the fascinating details and hidden wonders that are out of this world.
National Geographic Readers: Mars
by Elizabeth Carney
In this inviting and entertaining format, kids will learn about the newest information on Mars, the Mars Rover, and our ongoing exploration of the Red Planet.
Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet
by Buzz Aldrin and Marianne Dyson
In this fascinating book, hero-astronaut Buzz Aldrin challenges curious kids to think about Mars as not just a faraway red planet but as a possible future home for Earthlings!
Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover
by Markus Motum
From idea to creation and beyond, this fact-filled, stylish book introduces readers to Curiosity and her mission: to discover more about the red planet and search for evidence of life.
The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity
by Elizabeth Rusch
The Mighty Mars Rovers tells the greatest space robot adventure of all time through the eyes—and heart—of Steven Squyres, professor of astronomy at Cornell University and lead scientist on the mission.
How are you learning about the Mars rover landing this week?
