DESCRIPTION
Build a Human Habitat on Mars is a hands-on exhibit designed to inspire, engage, and educate the next generation of explorers about human exploration on Mars. For people to live on Mars, we will need to develop technology and systems that will allow humans to survive and thrive. Survival means there are processes in place to maintain the bare minimum for human life to exist: water to drink, oxygen to breathe, shelter from the harsh environment, and much more. Thriving on Mars requires making special efforts to stay healthy both physically and mentally. This means having resources to keep your mind and body active, like your favorite book, music, comfort foods, hobbies, exercise, and ways that allow you to transition your day-to-day routines to a new and very different planet from our own.
Build a Human Habitat on Mars utilizes Strictly Briks® building blocks, which are compatible with other major brick brands, and allows museum visitors to immediately be able to design and construct their own imaginary habitat for successful living and working on Mars. By using a familiar resource, participants can focus on the real challenges to life on Mars and have thoughtful reflection about possible solutions. The exhibit also includes a set of challenge cards presenting some of the very real hardships people will face when establishing an outpost on Mars. Wanted: explorers and creative thinkers who can survive, thrive, and Build a Human Habitat on Mars!
The exhibit component is designed to be integrated into the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition.
Resources include:
- Educator and Promotion Guide
- Technical Manual
- Photo Gallery
- Promo Video
- Print Ready & DIY Graphics
Approximate Exhibit Dimensions:
- 49" wide x 75" long x 86" high (the tall block wall has content on both sides)
Approximate Shipment Dimensions:
- 96" long x 35" wide x 54" high (all pieces will be wrapped and strapped to one pallet)
Exhibition Reach
- 2023: 3.7 million visitors
- 2024: 5.8 million visitors
DESCRIPTION
Build a Human Habitat on Mars is a hands-on exhibit designed to inspire, engage, and educate the next generation of explorers about human exploration on Mars. For people to live on Mars, we will need to develop technology and systems that will allow humans to survive and thrive. Survival means there are processes in place to maintain the bare minimum for human life to exist: water to drink, oxygen to breathe, shelter from the harsh environment, and much more. Thriving on Mars requires making special efforts to stay healthy both physically and mentally. This means having resources to keep your mind and body active, like your favorite book, music, comfort foods, hobbies, exercise, and ways that allow you to transition your day-to-day routines to a new and very different planet from our own.
Build a Human Habitat on Mars utilizes Strictly Briks® building blocks, which are compatible with other major brick brands, and allows museum visitors to immediately be able to design and construct their own imaginary habitat for successful living and working on Mars. By using a familiar resource, participants can focus on the real challenges to life on Mars and have thoughtful reflection about possible solutions. The exhibit also includes a set of challenge cards presenting some of the very real hardships people will face when establishing an outpost on Mars. Wanted: explorers and creative thinkers who can survive, thrive, and Build a Human Habitat on Mars!
The exhibit component is designed to be integrated into the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition.
Resources include:
- Educator and Promotion Guide
- Technical Manual
- Photo Gallery
- Promo Video
- Print Ready & DIY Graphics
Approximate Exhibit Dimensions:
- 49" wide x 75" long x 86" high (the tall block wall has content on both sides)
Approximate Shipment Dimensions:
- 96" long x 35" wide x 54" high (all pieces will be wrapped and strapped to one pallet)
Exhibition Reach
- 2023: 3.7 million visitors
- 2024: 5.8 million visitors
TRAINING VIDEOS
DOWNLOAD FILES
- Build a Human Habitat on Mars - Museum Educator & Promotion Guide (PDF)
- Build a Human Habitat on Mars - Technical Manual (PDF)
- Build a Human Habitat on Mars - Schematic (PDF)
- Build a Human Habitat on Mars - English and Spanish Logos (ZIP)
- Build a Human Habitat on Mars - Graphics Packet (PDF)
- Build a Human Habitat on Mars - Shipping Information (PDF)
- Build a Human Habitat on Mars - DIY Icon Stickers for Blocks (ZIP)
- Build a Human Habitat on Mars - Print Ready Graphics (ZIP)
- Build a Human Habitat on Mars - Summative Evaluation (PDF)
Credits
Science Museum of Minnesota
This material is based upon work supported by NASA under Grant Number 80NSSC20M0030. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).
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NISE Network products are developed through an iterative collaborative process that includes scientific review, peer review, and visitor evaluation in accordance with an inclusive audiences approach. Products are designed to be easily edited and adapted for different audiences under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license. To learn more, visit our Development Process page.