Chapman Middle School’s Project Lead the Way (PLTW) program recently wrapped up its Third Annual Student Mars Mission, an immersive STEM experience where students took on the roles of aerospace engineers, astronauts, and mission planners to design and simulate a human mission to Mars.
As part of the PLTW Flight and Space unit, students worked in teams to tackle real-world challenges of interplanetary travel. They selected landing sites, engineered rockets and landers, designed sustainable Martian habitats, and explored the science behind surviving on another planet. Their designs were grounded in research, creativity, and problem-solving—all core elements of PLTW’s hands-on, project-based approach.
The mission culminated on May 14, when local engineers visited the campus to evaluate student presentations and provide professional feedback. From detailed habitat models to mission timelines and astronaut simulations, students showcased their work with confidence and ingenuity.
