http://www.teachengineering.org/view_lesson.php?url=collection/cub_/lessons/cub_mars/cub_mars_lesson03.xmllessontext/xmlIntegrated Teaching and Learning Program, assemblymanufacturemanufacturingMarsMars roverOpportunitypartsroverSpiritSojournerspace exploration equipmentSpirittolerancesmanufacturingfabricationmachinistmilling machineCNClathetolerancesdimensionassembly

Have you ever wondered why it takes such a long period of time for NASA to build space exploration equipment? What is involved in manufacturing and building a rover for the Red Planet? During this lesson, students discover the journey that a Mars rover embarks upon after being designed by engineers and before being prepared for launch. Students investigate the fabrication techniques, tolerance concepts, assembly and field-testing associated with a Mars exploratory rover.

When designing a Mars rover — or any engineered object (cars, appliances, medical equipment, computers, telephones, televisions, toys, etc.) — engineers determine what parts to make and how tight the pieces should fit together. They decide which fabrication methods to use and which manufacturers to fabricate and assemble the parts. Since different manufacturers may be making different parts, engineers make sure that all of the parts fit together precisely by specifying for the fabricators acceptable tolerances, or numerical ranges.Describe the role of engineers in designing Mars rovers.Describe the basic steps that a rover undergoes after being designed and before launch.Provide examples of the fabrication methods used to manufacture parts for Mars rovers.Explain the concept of a tolerance and why it is essential for NASA to utilize tolerances.50TeachEngineering.orgDaria Kotys-SchwartzGeoffrey HillChris YakackiMalinda Schaefer ZarskeJanet Yowellhttp://www.assemblymag.com/CDA/Archives/9a0961025e5c9010VgnVCM100000f932a8c0____http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/MPF/rover/name.htmlhttp://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/mer/spotlight/machinists01.htmlhttp://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/mer/fido/Degarmo, Paul E., Black J.T., Kohser, R.A. Materials and Processes in Manufacturing. 9th Edition Update. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley Publishing Company, 2003.http://www.mel.nist.gov/photos/photo/ph059.html S1141797International_Technology_Education_Association-ITEA_STL_StandardsTechnologyF. Manufacturing systems use mechanical processes that change the form of materials through the processes of separating, forming, combining, and conditioning them. 68S11425BDColoradoScienceb. Describe methods and equipment used to explore the solar system and beyond 88United StatesCopyright 2012 - Integrated Teaching and Learning Program, College of Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulderhttp://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2011-08-188Teacher