Science Education Standards: Science as Inquiry -- Content Standard A

• Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.
• Understanding about scientific inquiry.

• Ability of technological design -- students should develop the abilities to identify a simple problem, propose a solution, implement a proposed solution, evaluate a product or design, and communicate a problem, design and solution.
• Understanding about science and technology -- scientists and engineers often work in teams with different individuals doing different things that contribute to the results.

Short Description: One important tool used by modern planetary scientists is a lander. In this activity, students model a mechanism for safely delivering a lander to the surface of another world.