🚀 SpaceGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6RoundingWord problemsPlace valueMulti-step word problemsMissing addends
The Lunar Outpost Mystery
Someone tampered with the life support grid on Starlight Station! Decrypt the telemetry logs and identify the suspect before the lunar night falls.
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 | Suit Module | Gadget | Glove Hand | Helmet Visor | System Jammer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Shepard | Thruster Pack | Laser Cutter | Right Handed | Gold Visor | Code Override |
| Eileen Collins | Thruster Pack | Beacon Flare | Right Handed | Gold Visor | Magnet Blast |
| Chris Hadfield | Thruster Pack | Stun Pulse | Left Handed | Silver Visor | Solar Pulse |
| Valentina Tereshkova | Grapple Arm | Sonic Scanner | Right Handed | Blue Visor | Solar Pulse |
| Kalpana Chawla | Grapple Arm | Beacon Flare | Right Handed | Blue Visor | Code Override |
| Buzz Aldrin | Mag Boots | Sonic Scanner | Right Handed | Blue Visor | Code Override |
| Jessica Meir | Plasma Torch | Laser Cutter | Left Handed | Gold Visor | Code Override |
| Peggy Whitson | Grapple Arm | Sonic Scanner | Left Handed | Blue Visor | Code Override |
| Sally Ride | Thruster Pack | Stun Pulse | Left Handed | Silver Visor | Magnet Blast |
| Robert Crippen | Plasma Torch | Laser Cutter | Right Handed | Blue Visor | Code Override |
| Christina Koch | Plasma Torch | Stun Pulse | Right Handed | Blue Visor | Code Override |
| Sunita Williams | Plasma Torch | EMP Mine | Left Handed | Silver Visor | Code Override |
| Bernard Harris | Grapple Arm | EMP Mine | Right Handed | Blue Visor | Code Override |
| Kjell Lindgren | Repair Drone | Laser Cutter | Right Handed | Silver Visor | Solar Pulse |
| John Glenn | Mag Boots | Stun Pulse | Left Handed | Silver Visor | Magnet Blast |
| Guion Bluford | Thruster Pack | Laser Cutter | Left Handed | Silver Visor | Code Override |
| Victor Glover | Grapple Arm | Laser Cutter | Left Handed | Blue Visor | Code Override |
| Samantha Cristoforetti | Grapple Arm | Stun Pulse | Left Handed | Blue Visor | Solar Pulse |
| Yuri Gagarin | Thruster Pack | Sonic Scanner | Left Handed | Gold Visor | Code Override |
| Neil Armstrong | Grapple Arm | Stun Pulse | Right Handed | Blue Visor | Solar Pulse |
| Jeanette Epps | Grapple Arm | EMP Mine | Right Handed | Gold Visor | Code Override |
Clue 1
Rounding
The station radar display rounds all distance values to the nearest hundred kilometers to clean up noisy tracking data.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
300
5000
7000
290
430
130
1300
T
300
7000
3700
70
1100
1300
7000
290
370
1300
T
300
3700
290
7000
430
130
7000
430
4300
1300
370
9000
2000
430
70
7000
Round 295 to the nearest hundredT
Round 67 to the nearest tenR
Round 290 to the nearest tenS
Round 5,261 to the nearest thousandH
Round 1,296 to the nearest hundredO
Round 1,086 to the nearest hundredD
Round 3,702 to the nearest hundredU
Round 434 to the nearest tenA
Round 6,835 to the nearest thousandE
Round 127 to the nearest tenB
Round 4,275 to the nearest hundredC
Round 9,495 to the nearest thousandF
Round 1,883 to the nearest thousandL
Round 367 to the nearest tenN
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
You review the supply manifests in the cargo bay to count how many gear crates were opened.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
35
20
118
45
107
45
33
85
D
E
D
Space Cadet lined up 7 rows of 5 solar panels. How many solar panels in all?R
Space Cadet found 20 space helmets yesterday and 25 more today. How many space helmets in all?H
Space Cadet found 59 space helmets yesterday and 26 more today. How many space helmets in all?N
Space Cadet lined up 11 rows of 3 star charts. How many star charts in all?A
There were 121 space helmets. 3 were used up. How many space helmets are left?G
There were 139 moon rocks. 32 were used up. How many moon rocks are left?T
Space Cadet lined up 5 rows of 4 star charts. How many star charts in all?I
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Place value
The security airlock panel displays power readings separated into hundreds, tens, and ones places.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
4000
100
40
T
4000
8000
20
700
40
T
4000
90
8000
5000
5000
T
4000
500
900
900
40
9000
2000
200
50
500
9000
40
500
3000
40
20
20
10
9000
40
What is the value of the 4 in 14,265?T
What is the value of the 7 in 55,723?G
What is the value of the 9 in 384,592?W
What is the value of the 2 in 13,420?R
What is the value of the 2 in 312,999?B
What is the value of the 1 in 22,714?I
What is the value of the 8 in 258,160?A
What is the value of the 1 in 588,196?H
What is the value of the 5 in 895,964?S
What is the value of the 3 in 583,761?V
What is the value of the 4 in 10,641?E
What is the value of the 5 in 78,517?O
What is the value of the 2 in 195,267?Y
What is the value of the 9 in 79,002?D
What is the value of the 5 in 42,756?C
What is the value of the 9 in 36,943?P
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Multi-step word problems
Calculating fuel usage across multiple shuttle trips requires solving a multi-step flight log.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Astrandof hairturnedupatthescene.
B
14
66
47
43
45
7
39
O
R
Space Cadet collected 20 solar panels in the morning and 8 solar panels in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 Astro Crew. How many solar panels did each get?B
There were 176 space helmets in all. 2 Astro Crew used 10 space helmets each. The other 4 Astro Crew shared the rest equally. How many space helmets did each of the other Astro Crew get?S
Space Cadet collected 2 space helmets in the morning and 40 space helmets in the afternoon, then split them equally among 6 Astro Crew. How many space helmets did each get?I
There were 281 oxygen tanks in all. 1 Astro Crew used 11 oxygen tanks each. The other 6 Astro Crew shared the rest equally. How many oxygen tanks did each of the other Astro Crew get?V
There were 551 star charts in all. 23 star charts were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 8 Astro Crew. How many star charts did each get?L
There were 144 star charts in all. 15 star charts were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 3 Astro Crew. How many star charts did each get?E
Space Cadet earned 4 solar panels in each of 6 rounds, plus 28 bonus solar panels. Then 5 solar panels were lost. How many solar panels are left?U
0/7 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
The pressure system needs a total balance, but one sensor input value is missing from the readout.
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
31 + ___ = 39
30 + ___ = 39
30 + ___ = 36
12 + ___ = 17
37 + ___ = 41
4 + ___ = 7
4 + ___ = 16
14 + ___ = 16
13 + ___ = 20
10 + ___ = 21
40 + ___ = 41
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain deployed a repair drone, then tripped alarms with an emp mine.
2.The villain ignited a thruster pack, then sliced airducts with a laser cutter.
3.The villain deployed a repair drone, then sliced airducts with a laser cutter.
4.The villain launched a grapple arm, then disrupted sensors with a stun pulse.
5.The villain marched with mag boots, then sliced airducts with a laser cutter.
6.The villain marched with mag boots, then scanned frequencies with a sonic scanner.
7.The villain launched a grapple arm, then sliced airducts with a laser cutter.
8.The villain sparked a plasma torch, then disrupted sensors with a stun pulse.
9.The villain sparked a plasma torch, then sliced airducts with a laser cutter.
10.The villain launched a grapple arm, then tripped alarms with an emp mine.
11.The villain sparked a plasma torch, then lit up the bay with a beacon flare.
12.The villain deployed a repair drone, then lit up the bay with a beacon flare.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Lunar Outpost Mystery
Culprit: Bernard Harris (Grapple Arm · EMP Mine · Right Handed · Blue Visor · Code Override)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE SABOTEUR DOES NOT USE A BEACON FLARE"Round 295 to the nearest hundred = 300 (T) · Round 67 to the nearest ten = 70 (R) · Round 290 to the nearest ten = 290 (S) · Round 5,261 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (H) · Round 1,296 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (O) · Round 1,086 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (D) · Round 3,702 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (U) · Round 434 to the nearest ten = 430 (A) · Round 6,835 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (E) · Round 127 to the nearest ten = 130 (B) · Round 4,275 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (C) · Round 9,495 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (F) · Round 1,883 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (L) · Round 367 to the nearest ten = 370 (N)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "RIGHT HANDED"Space Cadet lined up 7 rows of 5 solar panels. How many solar panels in all? = 35 (R) · Space Cadet found 20 space helmets yesterday and 25 more today. How many space helmets in all? = 45 (H) · Space Cadet found 59 space helmets yesterday and 26 more today. How many space helmets in all? = 85 (N) · Space Cadet lined up 11 rows of 3 star charts. How many star charts in all? = 33 (A) · There were 121 space helmets. 3 were used up. How many space helmets are left? = 118 (G) · There were 139 moon rocks. 32 were used up. How many moon rocks are left? = 107 (T) · Space Cadet lined up 5 rows of 4 star charts. How many star charts in all? = 20 (I)
- Clue 3 (Place value): "THE TARGET WAS STOPPED BY CODE OVERRIDE"What is the value of the 4 in 14,265? = 4000 (T) · What is the value of the 7 in 55,723? = 700 (G) · What is the value of the 9 in 384,592? = 90 (W) · What is the value of the 2 in 13,420? = 20 (R) · What is the value of the 2 in 312,999? = 2000 (B) · What is the value of the 1 in 22,714? = 10 (I) · What is the value of the 8 in 258,160? = 8000 (A) · What is the value of the 1 in 588,196? = 100 (H) · What is the value of the 5 in 895,964? = 5000 (S) · What is the value of the 3 in 583,761? = 3000 (V) · What is the value of the 4 in 10,641? = 40 (E) · What is the value of the 5 in 78,517? = 500 (O) · What is the value of the 2 in 195,267? = 200 (Y) · What is the value of the 9 in 79,002? = 9000 (D) · What is the value of the 5 in 42,756? = 50 (C) · What is the value of the 9 in 36,943? = 900 (P)
- Clue 4 (Multi-step word problems): "BLUE VISOR"Space Cadet collected 20 solar panels in the morning and 8 solar panels in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 Astro Crew. How many solar panels did each get? = 14 (B) · There were 176 space helmets in all. 2 Astro Crew used 10 space helmets each. The other 4 Astro Crew shared the rest equally. How many space helmets did each of the other Astro Crew get? = 39 (S) · Space Cadet collected 2 space helmets in the morning and 40 space helmets in the afternoon, then split them equally among 6 Astro Crew. How many space helmets did each get? = 7 (I) · There were 281 oxygen tanks in all. 1 Astro Crew used 11 oxygen tanks each. The other 6 Astro Crew shared the rest equally. How many oxygen tanks did each of the other Astro Crew get? = 45 (V) · There were 551 star charts in all. 23 star charts were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 8 Astro Crew. How many star charts did each get? = 66 (L) · There were 144 star charts in all. 15 star charts were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 3 Astro Crew. How many star charts did each get? = 43 (E) · Space Cadet earned 4 solar panels in each of 6 rounds, plus 28 bonus solar panels. Then 5 solar panels were lost. How many solar panels are left? = 47 (U)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 10) → Bernard Harris31 + ___ = 39 = 8 · 30 + ___ = 39 = 9 · 30 + ___ = 36 = 6 · 12 + ___ = 17 = 5 · 37 + ___ = 41 = 4 · 4 + ___ = 7 = 3 · 4 + ___ = 16 = 12 · 14 + ___ = 16 = 2 · 13 + ___ = 20 = 7 · 10 + ___ = 21 = 11 · 40 + ___ = 41 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Word problems, Place value, Multi-step word problems, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Lunar Outpost Mystery — set in Starlight Lunar Station
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects