🚀 SpaceGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4SubtractionRoundingAdditionMultiplicationDivision
The Lunar Outpost Mystery
Someone snuck into Lunar Base Alpha and stolen the glowing star crystal! Work through the station logs, decode the evidence, and find the bandit.
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 Tool | Secondary Gadget | Grip Style | Visor Tint | Defense Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Astro | Grav Tether | Starlight Scanner | Left handed | Blue visor | Magnet traps |
| Kalpana Chawla | Plasma Cutter | Plasma Shield | Left handed | Red visor | Bright flares |
| Mae Jemison | Pulse Beam | Starlight Scanner | Right handed | Gold visor | Bright flares |
| Eileen Collins | Pulse Beam | Gravity Boots | Right handed | Red visor | Bright flares |
| Captain Sirius | Grav Tether | Plasma Shield | Left handed | Gold visor | Bright flares |
| Peggy Whitson | Plasma Cutter | Gravity Boots | Left handed | Red visor | Loud sirens |
| Agent Polaris | Grav Tether | Gravity Boots | Right handed | Red visor | Bright flares |
| Ellen Ochoa | Plasma Cutter | Gravity Boots | Right handed | Gold visor | Magnet traps |
| Ranger Stella | Grav Tether | Laser Torch | Right handed | Blue visor | Loud sirens |
| Marshal Comet | Plasma Cutter | Plasma Shield | Left handed | Blue visor | Bright flares |
| Dr Alan Stern | Pulse Beam | Plasma Shield | Left handed | Blue visor | Magnet traps |
| Cadet Leo | Plasma Cutter | Gravity Boots | Right handed | Gold visor | Bright flares |
| Sally Ride | Grav Tether | Starlight Scanner | Right handed | Gold visor | Loud sirens |
| Commander Nova | Pulse Beam | Starlight Scanner | Right handed | Red visor | Bright flares |
| Scout Vega | Sonic Wrench | Laser Torch | Right handed | Gold visor | Bright flares |
| Michael Collins | Plasma Cutter | Plasma Shield | Right handed | Gold visor | Magnet traps |
| Neil Armstrong | Grav Tether | Laser Torch | Right handed | Gold visor | Bright flares |
| John Glenn | Plasma Cutter | Jetpack | Left handed | Blue visor | Loud sirens |
| Chris Hadfield | Thermal Torch | Laser Torch | Left handed | Blue visor | Magnet traps |
| Buzz Aldrin | Plasma Cutter | Jetpack | Right handed | Gold visor | Bright flares |
| Pilot Orion | Plasma Cutter | Starlight Scanner | Right handed | Red visor | Magnet traps |
Clue 1
Subtraction
To check missing energy cells in the engine room, calculate how much fuel was taken.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
V
138
630
656
656
465
630
661
443
707
392
731
661
707
785
890
731
392
731
785
465
105
656
630
659
166
785
731
897
465
661
661
392
105
271 - 133 =V
612 - 169 =D
932 - 42 =U
695 - 34 =N
1015 - 284 =S
961 - 64 =C
573 - 108 =A
459 - 354 =R
405 - 13 =E
904 - 248 =L
945 - 286 =G
176 - 10 =H
720 - 90 =I
1009 - 302 =O
1037 - 252 =T
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The long range station radar only gives estimated rounded figures for nearby craft.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
R
800
5000
600
6000
50
6000
200
400
20
80
20
300
R
800
5000
400
50
2000
400
600
500
200
7000
7000
Round 840 to the nearest hundredR
Round 6,438 to the nearest thousandH
Round 19 to the nearest tenD
Round 229 to the nearest hundredA
Round 6,841 to the nearest thousandS
Round 627 to the nearest hundredG
Round 1,504 to the nearest thousandO
Round 4,726 to the nearest thousandI
Round 80 to the nearest tenE
Round 52 to the nearest tenT
Round 402 to the nearest hundredN
Round 508 to the nearest hundredL
Round 261 to the nearest hundredP
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Addition
Tally up the total moon rocks collected during the morning rover patrol.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
F
614
731
257
952
218
601
647
725
647
648
257
650
974
901
F
614
952
488
648
218
567
399 + 215 =F
383 + 218 =D
391 + 259 =G
161 + 96 =I
482 + 243 =Y
578 + 396 =H
459 + 272 =O
380 + 521 =T
224 + 423 =B
249 + 399 =R
253 + 235 =A
550 + 402 =L
347 + 220 =S
128 + 90 =E
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Count the plasma batteries stored across equal supply rows in the cargo hold.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
G
49
9
108
25
55
20
32
9
100
100
54
8
108
54
5
35
20
9
120
108
54
8
35
48
54
40
20
120
25
7 × 7 =G
5 × 4 =I
5 × 7 =T
6 × 9 =E
1 × 8 =F
1 × 5 =C
10 × 10 =R
3 × 3 =O
10 × 12 =N
5 × 5 =D
8 × 5 =H
5 × 11 =V
4 × 12 =B
8 × 4 =S
9 × 12 =L
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Split the remaining oxygen canisters evenly among the exploration pods.
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
10 ÷ 1 = ?
70 ÷ 10 = ?
33 ÷ 3 = ?
35 ÷ 7 = ?
96 ÷ 8 = ?
2 ÷ 2 = ?
12 ÷ 4 = ?
12 ÷ 3 = ?
4 ÷ 2 = ?
48 ÷ 6 = ?
108 ÷ 12 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain hacked the pod terminal, then snatched the star chart.
2.The villain disabled the core gate, then swiped the crystal fuel.
3.The villain unlocked the launch bay, then escaped in a shuttle.
4.The villain zapped the solar vault, then scrambled the comms log.
5.The villain hacked the pod terminal, then swiped the crystal fuel.
6.The villain unlocked the launch bay, then cut the main power grid.
7.The villain hacked the pod terminal, then cut the main power grid.
8.The villain disabled the core gate, then escaped in a shuttle.
9.The villain jammed the radar dish, then escaped in a shuttle.
10.The villain zapped the solar vault, then snatched the star chart.
11.The villain zapped the solar vault, then escaped in a shuttle.
12.The villain jammed the radar dish, then scrambled the comms log.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Lunar Outpost Mystery
Culprit: Neil Armstrong (Grav Tether · Laser Torch · Right handed · Gold visor · Bright flares)
- Clue 1 (Subtraction): "VILLAIN DOES NOT USE STARLIGHT SCANNER"271 - 133 = 138 (V) · 612 - 169 = 443 (D) · 932 - 42 = 890 (U) · 695 - 34 = 661 (N) · 1015 - 284 = 731 (S) · 961 - 64 = 897 (C) · 573 - 108 = 465 (A) · 459 - 354 = 105 (R) · 405 - 13 = 392 (E) · 904 - 248 = 656 (L) · 945 - 286 = 659 (G) · 176 - 10 = 166 (H) · 720 - 90 = 630 (I) · 1009 - 302 = 707 (O) · 1037 - 252 = 785 (T)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "RIGHT HANDED PRINT ON GLASS"Round 840 to the nearest hundred = 800 (R) · Round 6,438 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (H) · Round 19 to the nearest ten = 20 (D) · Round 229 to the nearest hundred = 200 (A) · Round 6,841 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (S) · Round 627 to the nearest hundred = 600 (G) · Round 1,504 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (O) · Round 4,726 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (I) · Round 80 to the nearest ten = 80 (E) · Round 52 to the nearest ten = 50 (T) · Round 402 to the nearest hundred = 400 (N) · Round 508 to the nearest hundred = 500 (L) · Round 261 to the nearest hundred = 300 (P)
- Clue 3 (Addition): "FOILED BY BRIGHT FLARES"399 + 215 = 614 (F) · 383 + 218 = 601 (D) · 391 + 259 = 650 (G) · 161 + 96 = 257 (I) · 482 + 243 = 725 (Y) · 578 + 396 = 974 (H) · 459 + 272 = 731 (O) · 380 + 521 = 901 (T) · 224 + 423 = 647 (B) · 249 + 399 = 648 (R) · 253 + 235 = 488 (A) · 550 + 402 = 952 (L) · 347 + 220 = 567 (S) · 128 + 90 = 218 (E)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "GOLD VISOR REFLECTION LEFT BEHIND"7 × 7 = 49 (G) · 5 × 4 = 20 (I) · 5 × 7 = 35 (T) · 6 × 9 = 54 (E) · 1 × 8 = 8 (F) · 1 × 5 = 5 (C) · 10 × 10 = 100 (R) · 3 × 3 = 9 (O) · 10 × 12 = 120 (N) · 5 × 5 = 25 (D) · 8 × 5 = 40 (H) · 5 × 11 = 55 (V) · 4 × 12 = 48 (B) · 8 × 4 = 32 (S) · 9 × 12 = 108 (L)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 6) → Neil Armstrong10 ÷ 1 = 10 · 70 ÷ 10 = 7 · 33 ÷ 3 = 11 · 35 ÷ 7 = 5 · 96 ÷ 8 = 12 · 2 ÷ 2 = 1 · 12 ÷ 4 = 3 · 12 ÷ 3 = 4 · 4 ÷ 2 = 2 · 48 ÷ 6 = 8 · 108 ÷ 12 = 9
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Subtraction, Rounding, Addition, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Lunar Outpost Mystery — set in Lunar Base Alpha
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects