Join this course and learn all about Mars and why there is a universal fascination with the “red planet”. Is SpaceX founder Elon Musk’s vision of establishing a permanent human presence on Mars realistic? In studying the cosmos beyond Earth, students come to better understand God’s creation and the nature of science.
Total number of class meetings: 13
Duration of each class: 45 minutes
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade; Interested high school students welcomed.
Suggested credit: One full semester Science or Astronomy. For a full year credit, register in the spring for To the Moon: Apollo Missions and the Future.
Instructor: MacBeth Derham
Course description: From earliest history to modern science, people have been fascinated by Mars. We will journey through space and time, examining myth, science fiction, and science fact to explore the red planet.
Course outline:
Week 1: Introduction to the Myth; Early observations
Week 2: Mars and science fiction: 3 authors, 3 visions (literature connection)
Week 3: Where is Mars?
Week 4: Geology or Areology? And what about life?
Week 5: The Mariner Flybys
Week 6: Viking
Week 7: Oops! We lost it! – Observer, Polar Lander, Deeps Space 2, Mars Climate Orbiter
Week 8: Pathfinder, Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey
Week 9: Mars Express, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and Phoenix Scout
Week 10: Curiosity and Maven
Week 11: Exomars and Insight
Week 12: Perseverance
Week 13: Class discussion: Would you go to Mars?
Course materials: PDF files provided for free by the instructor.
Optional for middle school students and recommended for high school students: Discovering Mars by Sheehan and Bell (excerpts as assigned) ISBN-13: 978-0816532100 (https://amzn.to/3I8prco)
Homework: Weekly quizzes, assigned reading; excerpts from Heinlein’s Red Planet, Lewis’ Out of the Silent Planet, and H. G. Well’s War of the Worlds. Prepare for “Would you go to Mars?” class discussion.
- Teacher: MacBeth Derham