🚀 SpaceGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationRoundingDivision

The Lunar Base Heist

Emergency klaxons sound across the Ares Outpost! A rogue figure snuck into the command module and disabled the main satellite array. Detective astronaut, gather data from station logs and eliminate suspects to catch the saboteur!

Suspects

Possible suspects

Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.

21 of 21 still in play

Name	Primary Gear	Suit Gadget	Dominant Hand	Helmet Stripe	Defense System
Christina Koch	ROBOT ARM	HYPERDRIVE CORE	LEFT HANDED	NEON BLUE STRIPE	ULTRAVIOLET FLASH
John Glenn	GRAVITY BOOTS	RADAR DISH	RIGHT HANDED	NEON BLUE STRIPE	MAGNETIC FIELD
Bernard Harris	GRAVITY BOOTS	OXYGEN REBREATHER	RIGHT HANDED	NEON BLUE STRIPE	ULTRAVIOLET FLASH
Valentina Tereshkova	PLASMA TORCH	OXYGEN REBREATHER	LEFT HANDED	NEON BLUE STRIPE	MAGNETIC FIELD
Sunita Williams	GRAVITY BOOTS	BEAM SCANNER	LEFT HANDED	NEON BLUE STRIPE	SONIC PULSE
Michael Collins	GRAVITY BOOTS	OXYGEN REBREATHER	LEFT HANDED	SOLAR GOLD STRIPE	ULTRAVIOLET FLASH
Neil Armstrong	JETPACK BOOST	RADAR DISH	LEFT HANDED	NEON BLUE STRIPE	ULTRAVIOLET FLASH
Sally Ride	LASER CUTTER	SOLAR SHIELD	RIGHT HANDED	NEON BLUE STRIPE	SONIC PULSE
Robert Crippen	ROBOT ARM	BEAM SCANNER	LEFT HANDED	NEON BLUE STRIPE	MAGNETIC FIELD
Tim Peake	JETPACK BOOST	OXYGEN REBREATHER	LEFT HANDED	NEON BLUE STRIPE	MAGNETIC FIELD
Yuri Gagarin	PLASMA TORCH	OXYGEN REBREATHER	LEFT HANDED	COSMIC SILVER STRIPE	ULTRAVIOLET FLASH
Chris Hadfield	GRAVITY BOOTS	SOLAR SHIELD	RIGHT HANDED	SOLAR GOLD STRIPE	SONIC PULSE
Peggy Whitson	JETPACK BOOST	BEAM SCANNER	LEFT HANDED	NEON BLUE STRIPE	SONIC PULSE
Story Musgrave	GRAVITY BOOTS	HYPERDRIVE CORE	LEFT HANDED	NEON BLUE STRIPE	MAGNETIC FIELD
Buzz Aldrin	ROBOT ARM	BEAM SCANNER	RIGHT HANDED	SOLAR GOLD STRIPE	ULTRAVIOLET FLASH
Kalpana Chawla	JETPACK BOOST	OXYGEN REBREATHER	RIGHT HANDED	COSMIC SILVER STRIPE	ULTRAVIOLET FLASH
Guion Bluford	LASER CUTTER	SOLAR SHIELD	LEFT HANDED	NEON BLUE STRIPE	MAGNETIC FIELD
Jessica Meir	PLASMA TORCH	HYPERDRIVE CORE	RIGHT HANDED	NEON BLUE STRIPE	ULTRAVIOLET FLASH
Alan Shepard	LASER CUTTER	RADAR DISH	RIGHT HANDED	NEON BLUE STRIPE	MAGNETIC FIELD
Leland Melvin	LASER CUTTER	OXYGEN REBREATHER	LEFT HANDED	COSMIC SILVER STRIPE	SONIC PULSE
Scott Kelly	ROBOT ARM	BEAM SCANNER	LEFT HANDED	COSMIC SILVER STRIPE	MAGNETIC FIELD

Clue 1

Fractions of a number

You inspect the fuel logs and calculate the exact fraction of liquid hydrogen remaining in the auxiliary tanks.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

2/10 of 195 =T

2/4 of 10 =E

1/2 of 42 =O

1/5 of 185 =C

2/5 of 45 =H

5/10 of 24 =V

2/5 of 10 =L

2/5 of 40 =U

7/8 of 16 =Y

5/8 of 56 =D

4/8 of 34 =I

1/8 of 56 =S

1/2 of 54 =P

1/2 of 60 =N

1/2 of 68 =A

2/3 of 33 =R

0/16 letters found

Clue 2

Order of operations

To unlock the encrypted airlock console, you must work through the multi step operational sequence in precise order.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

54 + 2 × 9 =W

38 + 5 × 4 =L

8 × 7 - 10 =N

6 × 9 - 15 =S

7 × 5 - 6 =T

37 + 5 × 2 =G

10 × 6 - 17 =I

14 + 3 × 3 =H

5 × 8 - 8 =A

5 + 3 × 4 =F

34 + 2 × 2 =D

21 + 5 × 9 =R

42 + 5 × 7 =E

0/13 letters found

Clue 3

Multiplication facts (1-12)

By calculating the output across identical solar arrays in the main grid, you reveal a hidden power log.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

144

100

1 × 8 =D

1 × 6 =A

12 × 7 =C

1 × 1 =E

4 × 8 =G

5 × 11 =O

11 × 9 =T

9 × 10 =M

10 × 10 =L

1 × 5 =U

10 × 6 =I

5 × 5 =F

12 × 12 =R

6 × 9 =N

12 × 2 =S

0/15 letters found

Clue 4

Rounding

The station radar display rounds off distance readings, requiring you to round the values to pinpoint the suspect.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

430

200

130

230

200

900

2300

130

4300

300

2900

3700

130

9000

430

110

230

2300

200

3000

230

200

4300

2000

130

3700

430

200

130

900

Round 431 to the nearest tenA

Round 285 to the nearest hundredR

Round 2,272 to the nearest hundredU

Round 9,289 to the nearest thousandW

Round 938 to the nearest hundredL

Round 129 to the nearest tenE

Round 3,210 to the nearest thousandD

Round 233 to the nearest tenO

Round 106 to the nearest tenF

Round 2,858 to the nearest hundredI

Round 213 to the nearest hundredN

Round 4,281 to the nearest hundredT

Round 3,701 to the nearest hundredP

Round 24 to the nearest tenS

Round 53 to the nearest tenB

Round 1,568 to the nearest thousandH

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

You divide the emergency oxygen canisters equally among the remaining pods to track where the intruder struck.

First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!

Step 1 — solve these

49 ÷ 7 = ?

11 ÷ 1 = ?

81 ÷ 9 = ?

21 ÷ 7 = ?

6 ÷ 6 = ?

24 ÷ 6 = ?

14 ÷ 7 = ?

56 ÷ 7 = ?

84 ÷ 7 = ?

55 ÷ 11 = ?

60 ÷ 10 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain cut through containment with a laser cutter, then tracked defense signals via radar dish.

2.The villain grabbed the module using a robot arm, then charged up the hyperdrive core.

3.The villain sliced open the hatch with a plasma torch, then tracked defense signals via radar dish.

4.The villain cut through containment with a laser cutter, then filtered toxic gases through an oxygen rebreather.

5.The villain marched along the hull in gravity boots, then filtered toxic gases through an oxygen rebreather.

6.The villain blasted off using a jetpack boost, then deflected orbital debris with a solar shield.

7.The villain blasted off using a jetpack boost, then filtered toxic gases through an oxygen rebreather.

8.The villain grabbed the module using a robot arm, then tracked defense signals via radar dish.

9.The villain sliced open the hatch with a plasma torch, then filtered toxic gases through an oxygen rebreather.

10.The villain cut through containment with a laser cutter, then deflected orbital debris with a solar shield.

11.The villain grabbed the module using a robot arm, then scanned the dark sector with a beam scanner.

12.The villain cut through containment with a laser cutter, then scanned the dark sector with a beam scanner.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Lunar Base Heist

Culprit: Guion Bluford (LASER CUTTER · SOLAR SHIELD · LEFT HANDED · NEON BLUE STRIPE · MAGNETIC FIELD)

Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE VILLAINS SUIT HAD NO HYPERDRIVE CORE"
2/10 of 195 = 39 (T) · 2/4 of 10 = 5 (E) · 1/2 of 42 = 21 (O) · 1/5 of 185 = 37 (C) · 2/5 of 45 = 18 (H) · 5/10 of 24 = 12 (V) · 2/5 of 10 = 4 (L) · 2/5 of 40 = 16 (U) · 7/8 of 16 = 14 (Y) · 5/8 of 56 = 35 (D) · 4/8 of 34 = 17 (I) · 1/8 of 56 = 7 (S) · 1/2 of 54 = 27 (P) · 1/2 of 60 = 30 (N) · 1/2 of 68 = 34 (A) · 2/3 of 33 = 22 (R)
Clue 2 (Order of operations): "WITNESS SAW LEFT HANDED STEERING"
54 + 2 × 9 = 72 (W) · 38 + 5 × 4 = 58 (L) · 8 × 7 - 10 = 46 (N) · 6 × 9 - 15 = 39 (S) · 7 × 5 - 6 = 29 (T) · 37 + 5 × 2 = 47 (G) · 10 × 6 - 17 = 43 (I) · 14 + 3 × 3 = 23 (H) · 5 × 8 - 8 = 32 (A) · 5 + 3 × 4 = 17 (F) · 34 + 2 × 2 = 38 (D) · 21 + 5 × 9 = 66 (R) · 42 + 5 × 7 = 77 (E)
Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "DEFENDERS USED A STRONG MAGNETIC FIELD"
1 × 8 = 8 (D) · 1 × 6 = 6 (A) · 12 × 7 = 84 (C) · 1 × 1 = 1 (E) · 4 × 8 = 32 (G) · 5 × 11 = 55 (O) · 11 × 9 = 99 (T) · 9 × 10 = 90 (M) · 10 × 10 = 100 (L) · 1 × 5 = 5 (U) · 10 × 6 = 60 (I) · 5 × 5 = 25 (F) · 12 × 12 = 144 (R) · 6 × 9 = 54 (N) · 12 × 2 = 24 (S)
Clue 4 (Rounding): "A NEON BLUE STRIPE WAS FOUND ON THE PANEL"
Round 431 to the nearest ten = 430 (A) · Round 285 to the nearest hundred = 300 (R) · Round 2,272 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (U) · Round 9,289 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (W) · Round 938 to the nearest hundred = 900 (L) · Round 129 to the nearest ten = 130 (E) · Round 3,210 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (D) · Round 233 to the nearest ten = 230 (O) · Round 106 to the nearest ten = 110 (F) · Round 2,858 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (I) · Round 213 to the nearest hundred = 200 (N) · Round 4,281 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (T) · Round 3,701 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (P) · Round 24 to the nearest ten = 20 (S) · Round 53 to the nearest ten = 50 (B) · Round 1,568 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (H)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Guion Bluford
49 ÷ 7 = 7 · 11 ÷ 1 = 11 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 21 ÷ 7 = 3 · 6 ÷ 6 = 1 · 24 ÷ 6 = 4 · 14 ÷ 7 = 2 · 56 ÷ 7 = 8 · 84 ÷ 7 = 12 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 60 ÷ 10 = 6

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 5 math
Math topics: Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
Reading level: grades 5-6
Theme: The Lunar Base Heist — set in Ares Lunar Research Outpost
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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