🚀 SpaceGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6RoundingFractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationMissing addends
The Starlight Orbital Mystery
A mysterious phantom has tampered with the lunar crop growth chambers on Starlight Orbital Research Base! Chief Astrobiologist Dr. Vega discovered the environmental controls compromised. Examine the telemetry logs and sensor traces to unmask the station saboteur before the next orbit.
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 Gadget | Secondary Module | Glove Habit | Helmet Tint | System Flaw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buzz Aldrin | Plasma Torch | Stun Beam | Adjusts Left Cuff | Solar Gold Tint | Low Battery Alarm |
| Robert Crippen | Sonic Scanner | Cloaking Device | Adjusts Right Cuff | Solar Gold Tint | Low Battery Alarm |
| Peggy Whitson | Laser Cutter | Stun Beam | Adjusts Right Cuff | Solar Gold Tint | Thermal Overheat |
| Joan Higginbotham | Laser Cutter | Stun Beam | Adjusts Right Cuff | Neon Blue Tint | Static Interference |
| Victor Glover | Gravity Boots | EMP Blaster | Adjusts Left Cuff | Cosmic Purple Tint | Low Battery Alarm |
| Jessica Meir | Gravity Boots | Cloaking Device | Adjusts Right Cuff | Neon Blue Tint | Low Battery Alarm |
| Guion Bluford | Sonic Scanner | Magnet Clamp | Adjusts Left Cuff | Cosmic Purple Tint | Thermal Overheat |
| Serena Aunon | Laser Cutter | EMP Blaster | Adjusts Right Cuff | Solar Gold Tint | Low Battery Alarm |
| Christina Koch | Laser Cutter | Stun Beam | Adjusts Left Cuff | Solar Gold Tint | Static Interference |
| Michael Collins | Laser Cutter | Cloaking Device | Adjusts Right Cuff | Solar Gold Tint | Low Battery Alarm |
| Stephanie Wilson | Sonic Scanner | Cloaking Device | Adjusts Right Cuff | Solar Gold Tint | Thermal Overheat |
| Guy Gardner | Jetpack Thruster | Hologram Projector | Adjusts Right Cuff | Solar Gold Tint | Low Battery Alarm |
| Bernard Harris | Sonic Scanner | Magnet Clamp | Adjusts Left Cuff | Neon Blue Tint | Thermal Overheat |
| Ellen Ochoa | Laser Cutter | Hologram Projector | Adjusts Left Cuff | Cosmic Purple Tint | Static Interference |
| Mae Jemison | Gravity Boots | Magnet Clamp | Adjusts Left Cuff | Neon Blue Tint | Low Battery Alarm |
| Sunita Williams | Laser Cutter | Cloaking Device | Adjusts Right Cuff | Cosmic Purple Tint | Thermal Overheat |
| Eileen Collins | Gravity Boots | Magnet Clamp | Adjusts Left Cuff | Solar Gold Tint | Static Interference |
| Sally Ride | Jetpack Thruster | Magnet Clamp | Adjusts Right Cuff | Neon Blue Tint | Low Battery Alarm |
| Joseph Acaba | Jetpack Thruster | Hologram Projector | Adjusts Right Cuff | Neon Blue Tint | Static Interference |
| Chris Hadfield | Gravity Boots | Magnet Clamp | Adjusts Right Cuff | Cosmic Purple Tint | Thermal Overheat |
| John Glenn | Sonic Scanner | Magnet Clamp | Adjusts Right Cuff | Solar Gold Tint | Low Battery Alarm |
Clue 1
Rounding
The telemetry radar only displays long distance coordinates rounded to the nearest thousand. Decoding the signal gives us our first clue.
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
3700
110
90
2000
2900
290
9000
T
3700
90
20
1300
200
900
200
700
9000
T
3700
20
2000
90
2900
370
2900
500
700
90
T
3700
230
3000
2900
370
50
Round 3,687 to the nearest hundredT
Round 464 to the nearest hundredG
Round 2,940 to the nearest hundredA
Round 889 to the nearest hundredI
Round 198 to the nearest hundredD
Round 291 to the nearest tenB
Round 231 to the nearest tenC
Round 113 to the nearest tenH
Round 8,670 to the nearest thousandO
Round 24 to the nearest tenU
Round 53 to the nearest tenP
Round 2,004 to the nearest thousandS
Round 2,621 to the nearest thousandL
Round 366 to the nearest tenM
Round 1,332 to the nearest hundredR
Round 737 to the nearest hundredN
Round 92 to the nearest tenE
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Fractions of a number
Dr. Vega calculated that a fraction of the power grid was rerouted during the intrusion. Analyzing this portion reveals the extra gear.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
18
16
28
13
20
39
10
7
9
14
23
S
18
5
14
22
S
18
20
39
23
5
10
28
13
19
19
36
6
27
13
S
18
10
34
16
37
10
9/10 of 20 =S
1/6 of 96 =E
2/10 of 170 =M
5/10 of 12 =D
1/3 of 57 =F
1/8 of 112 =O
5/10 of 74 =N
2/3 of 54 =A
9/10 of 30 =J
2/4 of 10 =H
5/6 of 24 =R
1/10 of 70 =Y
2/4 of 20 =T
2/8 of 156 =I
3/6 of 46 =G
1/8 of 176 =W
1/4 of 36 =L
2/6 of 84 =C
3/6 of 26 =U
0/19 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
To unlock the encrypted security footage, you must evaluate the multi-step code sequence in exact 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.
A
60
42
74
57
10
A
60
6
6
8
15
32
A
60
42
A
60
15
22
13
74
49
59
29
8
29
59
8
A
60
15
6
70
8
13
33
8
59
8
28 + 4 × 8 =A
24 + 3 × 6 =L
2 + 2 × 2 =T
4 + 2 × 3 =B
29 + 9 × 5 =O
43 + 3 × 2 =U
12 + 5 × 2 =M
8 × 9 - 2 =H
31 + 7 × 4 =N
6 × 4 - 11 =S
13 + 4 × 5 =C
8 × 5 - 8 =Y
9 × 9 - 24 =W
14 + 5 × 3 =D
9 × 2 - 10 =E
11 × 4 - 29 =R
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The intruder passed through several identical solar array corridors, creating repeating signal pulses across the grid.
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
42
12
64
16
110
110
22
25
99
22
90
14
12
16
80
90
16
80
25
12
110
54
22
30
64
16
99
2
110
77
16
99
30
14
12
80
14
6 × 7 =V
2 × 11 =E
7 × 11 =G
5 × 5 =F
8 × 10 =N
5 × 6 =D
11 × 10 =R
2 × 7 =T
8 × 2 =O
9 × 6 =M
9 × 11 =L
4 × 3 =I
8 × 8 =S
2 × 1 =A
9 × 10 =C
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
Checking the station fuel vault logs shows a missing quantity of helium three needed to balance the energy ledger.
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
21 + ___ = 32
22 + ___ = 24
18 + ___ = 19
2 + ___ = 5
19 + ___ = 24
16 + ___ = 22
5 + ___ = 12
39 + ___ = 49
26 + ___ = 34
16 + ___ = 28
26 + ___ = 30
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain breaches the vault seal, then zaps the backup generator.
2.The villain maps the internal sensors, then vanishes into the shadows.
3.The villain slices through the hatch lock, then locks the hull clamps.
4.The villain flies over the security fence, then vanishes into the shadows.
5.The villain maps the internal sensors, then zaps the backup generator.
6.The villain slices through the hatch lock, then zaps the backup generator.
7.The villain maps the internal sensors, then creates a decoy projection.
8.The villain slices through the hatch lock, then creates a decoy projection.
9.The villain breaches the vault seal, then vanishes into the shadows.
10.The villain maps the internal sensors, then freezes the door controls.
11.The villain flies over the security fence, then creates a decoy projection.
12.The villain slices through the hatch lock, then freezes the door controls.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Starlight Orbital Mystery
Culprit: Michael Collins (Laser Cutter · Cloaking Device · Adjusts Right Cuff · Solar Gold Tint · Low Battery Alarm)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE SABOTEUR DID NOT USE A MAGNET CLAMP"Round 3,687 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (T) · Round 464 to the nearest hundred = 500 (G) · Round 2,940 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (A) · Round 889 to the nearest hundred = 900 (I) · Round 198 to the nearest hundred = 200 (D) · Round 291 to the nearest ten = 290 (B) · Round 231 to the nearest ten = 230 (C) · Round 113 to the nearest ten = 110 (H) · Round 8,670 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (O) · Round 24 to the nearest ten = 20 (U) · Round 53 to the nearest ten = 50 (P) · Round 2,004 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (S) · Round 2,621 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (L) · Round 366 to the nearest ten = 370 (M) · Round 1,332 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (R) · Round 737 to the nearest hundred = 700 (N) · Round 92 to the nearest ten = 90 (E)
- Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "SECURITY LOG SHOWS RIGHT CUFF ADJUSTMENT"9/10 of 20 = 18 (S) · 1/6 of 96 = 16 (E) · 2/10 of 170 = 34 (M) · 5/10 of 12 = 6 (D) · 1/3 of 57 = 19 (F) · 1/8 of 112 = 14 (O) · 5/10 of 74 = 37 (N) · 2/3 of 54 = 36 (A) · 9/10 of 30 = 27 (J) · 2/4 of 10 = 5 (H) · 5/6 of 24 = 20 (R) · 1/10 of 70 = 7 (Y) · 2/4 of 20 = 10 (T) · 2/8 of 156 = 39 (I) · 3/6 of 46 = 23 (G) · 1/8 of 176 = 22 (W) · 1/4 of 36 = 9 (L) · 2/6 of 84 = 28 (C) · 3/6 of 26 = 13 (U)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "A LOW BATTERY ALARM SOUNDED NEAR THE SCENE"28 + 4 × 8 = 60 (A) · 24 + 3 × 6 = 42 (L) · 2 + 2 × 2 = 6 (T) · 4 + 2 × 3 = 10 (B) · 29 + 9 × 5 = 74 (O) · 43 + 3 × 2 = 49 (U) · 12 + 5 × 2 = 22 (M) · 8 × 9 - 2 = 70 (H) · 31 + 7 × 4 = 59 (N) · 6 × 4 - 11 = 13 (S) · 13 + 4 × 5 = 33 (C) · 8 × 5 - 8 = 32 (Y) · 9 × 9 - 24 = 57 (W) · 14 + 5 × 3 = 29 (D) · 9 × 2 - 10 = 8 (E) · 11 × 4 - 29 = 15 (R)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "VISOR REFLECTION CONFIRMED SOLAR GOLD TINT"6 × 7 = 42 (V) · 2 × 11 = 22 (E) · 7 × 11 = 77 (G) · 5 × 5 = 25 (F) · 8 × 10 = 80 (N) · 5 × 6 = 30 (D) · 11 × 10 = 110 (R) · 2 × 7 = 14 (T) · 8 × 2 = 16 (O) · 9 × 6 = 54 (M) · 9 × 11 = 99 (L) · 4 × 3 = 12 (I) · 8 × 8 = 64 (S) · 2 × 1 = 2 (A) · 9 × 10 = 90 (C)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 9) → Michael Collins21 + ___ = 32 = 11 · 22 + ___ = 24 = 2 · 18 + ___ = 19 = 1 · 2 + ___ = 5 = 3 · 19 + ___ = 24 = 5 · 16 + ___ = 22 = 6 · 5 + ___ = 12 = 7 · 39 + ___ = 49 = 10 · 26 + ___ = 34 = 8 · 16 + ___ = 28 = 12 · 26 + ___ = 30 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Starlight Orbital Mystery — set in Starlight Orbital Research Base
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects