Here are some questions that will help you get started on the challenge:

Astrophysicist
• Why is our star important?
• What effect does the mass of a planet have on its atmosphere and temperature?
• How does the orbit of a planet around its star affect the planet's atmosphere and temperature?
• What are the ideal characteristics of a star system to support human life? Why?

Atmospheric Scientist
• What is an atmosphere? Why is it important?
• What is the greenhouse effect?
• What is the ozone layer? Why is it important? What would happen if there were no ozone layer?
• What is carbon dioxide? Why is it important? Where does it come from?
• How does carbon dioxide affect the temperature of a planet?
What is oxygen? Why is it important? Where does it come from? What would happen if there were no oxygen?
• What is water vapor? Why is it important?
• What is nitrogen? How is it important to life?
• What are the ideal characteristics of a planet's atmosphere to support human life? Why?
• What is the approximate temperature range of the surface on Mars?
• Is there water on Mars? If so, what state (solid, liquid, gas) might it be in? If so, where is it located? What evidence supports that?
• What is the approximate pressure and composition of the atmosphere on Mars?
• When compared to Earth, how much ultraviolet radiation does the surface of Mars receive?
• What effect does ultraviolet radiation have on life?

Biologist
• Where do we get our energy?
• What do plants and other producers provide for us?
• How does our Sun help us live?
• What kind of energy do we get from our Sun?
• How do producers use the energy of the Sun?
• Why is photosynthesis so important for life on Earth?
• What would happen if there were no plants or animals?
• What role do decomposers play? Why are decomposers important?
• What role do consumers have? Why are consumers important?
• What are the different roles that bacteria play? How are bacteria beneficial to us?
• What is an extremophile?
• Are there places on Earth that are similar to places on Mars? Does life exist in these places?
• What is an extreme environment? What kind of organisms are found in extreme environments?
• Why is water so important for life?
• What are the ideal characteristics of a planet's biological energy flow to support human life? Why?
• When compared to Earth, how much sunlight does Mars get?
• Is there an organism on Earth that might be survive on the surface of Mars? Why or why not?
• What environmental conditions must an organism overcome to be able to survive on the surface of Mars?
• What kind of environmental conditions must an organism overcome to be able to survive inside Mars?
• What characteristics of extreme Earth life might be needed in a Martian life-form?
• Do we know for sure if there is or is not life on Mars?

Geologist
• What does the Earth look like in the inside?
• How does the inside affect the outside?
• What is the carbon cycle?
• How are volcanoes formed?
• Why is plate movement important to life?
• How does a planet's mantle affect surface temperature?
• What happens to the air when volcanoes erupt?
• What is a magnetic field? What causes it? How does it help us on Earth?
• How does the movement of the plates on a planet affect the surface temperature?
• What are the ideal characteristics of a planet's structure to support human life? Why?
• Does Mars have plate tectonics?
• Does Mars have volcanoes? If so, are they active?
• Does Mars have a magnetic field?
• Does Mars have a hot or cold interior? What do scientists think its structure is? How would that effect its potential to support life?

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