Moon or Mars?

You and your partners have a choice to make.   Should the first off-Earth settlement be built on the Moon or on Mars?

There are pros and cons to each.

STARTING LINE.  To start, let's look at the current information out there.   
Take short notes if you wish

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/22/world/mars-one-way-ticket  

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2330220/Astronauts-LIVE-moon-2020-Nasa-report-claims.html

Google Moon or Mars and find at least two different articles to add to your thoughts

WARMING UP  Then see some of the thoughts behind this dream by looking at the different thinking plans.

http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/human_space/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki /Colonization_of_Mars  

http://marshome.org/ 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonization_of_the_Moon 

http://www.nss.org/settlement/ 

The point of this is to figure out critical needs.  Perhaps you could make a t-chart to list the differences between the Moon and Mars.

OLD HAT STUFF Now look at some of the missions that have already been put together to each planet:

http://planetary.org/explore/topics/the_moon/missions.html 

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/programmissions/ 

What have they already figured out about the planet regarding the atmosphere or the availability of water?

PAST DATA Use your Current Posters or other readings to help you see if there are:

a) plate tectonics

b) a magnetosphere

c) an atmosphere

d) water

e) gravitational forces

f) minerals

g) temperature extremes

How does this information affect your decision?

DISTANCE SCHMINSTINCE.  How long do you think it will take to get there on a space mission, and what does that mean for a launch date?

WILL I DIE?. Finally, take a look at the life and health risks involved in being an astronaut on a long-term journey.

Health Concerns
Exercise
Hygiene needs

Can we taste in space?

Risk Factors

Can we have kids in space?

Based on these health risks, do you want to be the one to travel on your journey? And whether you do or not, what are 10 things needed for the journey keep your brain and emotions healthy?  Explain.

Where should we go?  Make your decision, and be prepared to support it with at least 5 reasonable arguments/evidence.  Create a video blog, or a podcast interview(share it with me) or email it to me.  This is due by Monday night at 11:59 pm

Rubric for grading--Group

This presentation is worth 60 points

Category	Excellent	Acceptable	Marginal	Unacceptable
Quality of Product Multimedia	Worthy of the World	Informative and Loved By Parents	Entertaining to Friends	Rude, or Socially Unacceptable
Quality of Content	Worthy of the World	Informative and Loved By Parents	Entertaining to Friends	Rude, or Socially Unacceptable
Persuasiveness to a Position	Worthy of a Debate Scholarship	Gets a II at Individual Speech	Snowjob	Rude, or Socially Unacceptable
Identification of the Risks Involved	Worthy of a NASA or insurance report	Acceptable to someone who is on Survivor	Adequate for those who shun safety gear	Rude, or Unacceptable
Thoroughness of Information	Worthy of a private boardroom presentation	Filled with Geeky Speak	Entertaining to Friends	Rude, or Socially Unacceptable