Project Hail Mary

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/project-hail-mary

1. What is the scientific name of threat?
2. What is the primary mission objective?
3. What happens when Ryland Grace wakes up in space?
4. Why is Ryland Grace a good astronaut even though he was a middle school science teacher?

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name of threat?Astrophage
2. What is the primary mission objective?Find a solution to the sun's dimming caused by Astrophage
3. What happens when Ryland Grace wakes up in space?Ryland Grace wakes up aboard the spaceship "Hail Mary" with no memory of who he is or how he got there. He must figure out his past and the mission while floating in space.
4. Why is Ryland Grace a good astronaut even though he was a middle school science teacher?His teaching background lets him break down complex problems, experiment with simple tools, and adapt to surprises, which are essential skills for space travel.

Hard Science Fiction: A subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes scientific accuracy and plausible technological concepts.
Existential Threat: A danger that could lead to the extinction of a species or the end of civilization.
Interstellar Diplomacy: The practice of managing relationships and communication between different starfaring civilizations.