🚀 SpaceGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationFractions of a numberOrder of operationsRoundingDivision
The Astra Nebula Sabotage
The experimental Starcore Generator has been stolen from the heart of the Astra Nebula Outpost! With the station running on emergency backup power, the crew is counting on you to crack the case. Decode the space logs and use your math skills to identify the saboteur before our orbit decays!
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 Ability | Specialized Gear | Observed Scan | Visor Hair Sample | Defensive Counter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalpana Chawla | Laser Welding | Meteor Shielding | Wears Left Wrist Computer | Floating Blue Hair | Flashbang Flare |
| Yi So-yeon | Holographic Mimicry | Magneto Walking | Wears Left Wrist Computer | Floating Blue Hair | EMP Blast |
| Gennady Padalka | Holographic Mimicry | Meteor Shielding | Wears Right Wrist Computer | Cropped Silver Hair | Magnetic Trap |
| Helen Sharman | Gravity Manipulation | Jetpack Thrusting | Wears Right Wrist Computer | Floating Blue Hair | Flashbang Flare |
| Buzz Aldrin | Plasma Venting | Meteor Shielding | Wears Left Wrist Computer | Cropped Silver Hair | Flashbang Flare |
| Tim Peake | Warp Tunneling | Magneto Walking | Wears Left Wrist Computer | Cropped Silver Hair | EMP Blast |
| Sally Ride | Warp Tunneling | Magneto Walking | Wears Right Wrist Computer | Floating Blue Hair | Flashbang Flare |
| Mae Jemison | Plasma Venting | Meteor Shielding | Wears Right Wrist Computer | Floating Blue Hair | Magnetic Trap |
| Ellen Ochoa | Plasma Venting | Cybernetic Hacking | Wears Right Wrist Computer | Neon Green Mohawks | EMP Blast |
| Guion Bluford | Plasma Venting | Cybernetic Hacking | Wears Left Wrist Computer | Floating Blue Hair | EMP Blast |
| Alan Shepard | Warp Tunneling | Magneto Walking | Wears Left Wrist Computer | Floating Blue Hair | EMP Blast |
| Scott Kelly | Warp Tunneling | Solar Charging | Wears Right Wrist Computer | Floating Blue Hair | Magnetic Trap |
| Yuri Gagarin | Laser Welding | Jetpack Thrusting | Wears Left Wrist Computer | Cropped Silver Hair | Flashbang Flare |
| John Glenn | Laser Welding | Magneto Walking | Wears Left Wrist Computer | Cropped Silver Hair | EMP Blast |
| Peggy Whitson | Warp Tunneling | Solar Charging | Wears Left Wrist Computer | Floating Blue Hair | EMP Blast |
| Sunita Williams | Laser Welding | Meteor Shielding | Wears Right Wrist Computer | Floating Blue Hair | EMP Blast |
| Guy Laliberte | Plasma Venting | Meteor Shielding | Wears Right Wrist Computer | Cropped Silver Hair | Magnetic Trap |
| Michael Collins | Gravity Manipulation | Meteor Shielding | Wears Left Wrist Computer | Neon Green Mohawks | EMP Blast |
| Chris Hadfield | Plasma Venting | Cybernetic Hacking | Wears Right Wrist Computer | Floating Blue Hair | EMP Blast |
| Anousheh Ansari | Warp Tunneling | Cybernetic Hacking | Wears Left Wrist Computer | Floating Blue Hair | EMP Blast |
| Charles Bolden | Gravity Manipulation | Meteor Shielding | Wears Right Wrist Computer | Floating Blue Hair | Flashbang Flare |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We found a grid of discarded fuel cells left behind by the intruder. Count the total cells by multiplying the rows by the columns to unlock the security 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.
T
45
15
12
5
108
110
33
T
45
12
99
20
70
33
12
5
48
33
T
45
15
108
64
12
5
33
80
108
20
50
15
108
20
55
36
48
55
9 × 5 =T
10 × 5 =C
9 × 12 =A
8 × 8 =V
5 × 1 =S
9 × 11 =U
3 × 11 =O
8 × 10 =L
11 × 5 =G
5 × 3 =H
9 × 4 =I
4 × 12 =N
4 × 5 =R
10 × 7 =D
11 × 10 =B
6 × 2 =E
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Fractions of a number
The saboteur broke into the supply bay and took a specific fraction of our star-maps. Calculate the exact fraction of maps stolen to reveal the villain's escape route.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
L
8
30
33
19
34
18
17
11
19
16
39
22
23
5
19
30
18
25
L
8
39
34
30
2
17
21
19
38
30
2
32
18
31
21
30
11
11
1/6 of 48 =L
3/5 of 55 =F
4/10 of 75 =E
2/6 of 93 =K
5/10 of 68 =W
6/10 of 65 =O
1/6 of 102 =I
1/5 of 105 =N
1/4 of 92 =P
1/5 of 190 =H
1/3 of 48 =C
1/2 of 10 =U
5/10 of 4 =D
5/10 of 38 =T
2/6 of 96 =A
1/4 of 100 =G
2/8 of 88 =M
1/10 of 110 =S
2/4 of 36 =R
0/19 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
To bypass the encrypted airlock door, we must solve a multi-step equation. Follow the proper order of operations to crack the code and find the next 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.
A
80
39
51
63
67
18
78
A
80
17
54
17
69
75
54
55
79
36
39
54
69
51
67
79
36
51
59
17
75
53
54
59 + 7 × 3 =A
31 + 7 × 4 =R
9 × 10 - 27 =M
7 × 9 - 10 =I
25 + 9 × 6 =O
11 × 5 - 19 =W
2 × 9 - 1 =S
11 × 9 - 24 =U
46 + 2 × 4 =T
6 + 3 × 4 =B
10 × 7 - 19 =E
15 + 8 × 5 =D
9 × 11 - 30 =H
6 × 8 - 9 =N
9 × 11 - 21 =L
37 + 6 × 5 =P
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
Our tracking radar is fuzzy, showing only a rounded distance to the runner's pod. Round this coordinate to the nearest hundred to isolate their tracking signature.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
L
200
1300
1300
4300
370
4300
2900
130
2000
900
5000
4300
1300
9000
9000
L
200
1300
2000
2900
700
900
2300
70
L
200
430
370
300
2000
700
130
130
370
30
2000
700
900
370
5000
Round 193 to the nearest hundredL
Round 132 to the nearest tenR
Round 8,604 to the nearest thousandF
Round 429 to the nearest tenU
Round 858 to the nearest hundredN
Round 2,083 to the nearest thousandA
Round 665 to the nearest hundredI
Round 5,138 to the nearest thousandD
Round 2,261 to the nearest hundredG
Round 1,266 to the nearest hundredO
Round 4,254 to the nearest hundredS
Round 372 to the nearest tenE
Round 34 to the nearest tenM
Round 2,921 to the nearest hundredT
Round 265 to the nearest hundredH
Round 70 to the nearest tenB
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We recovered a crate of power canisters dropped during the getaway. If we divide these evenly among our patrol drones, how many does each drone get?
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
99 ÷ 9 = ?
27 ÷ 9 = ?
14 ÷ 7 = ?
20 ÷ 4 = ?
10 ÷ 10 = ?
56 ÷ 7 = ?
81 ÷ 9 = ?
120 ÷ 12 = ?
49 ÷ 7 = ?
60 ÷ 5 = ?
42 ÷ 7 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain welds the emergency exit shut with a laser, then blasts away with a jetpack.
2.The villain tears a warp tunnel through the bulkhead, then magneto walks up the outer hull.
3.The villain creates a holographic duplicate of himself, then magneto walks up the outer hull.
4.The villain tears a warp tunnel through the bulkhead, then hacks the security mainframe.
5.The villain creates a holographic duplicate of himself, then hacks the security mainframe.
6.The villain manipulates the local gravity field, then absorbs energy from the solar panels.
7.The villain manipulates the local gravity field, then magneto walks up the outer hull.
8.The villain welds the emergency exit shut with a laser, then magneto walks up the outer hull.
9.The villain manipulates the local gravity field, then hacks the security mainframe.
10.The villain creates a holographic duplicate of himself, then blasts away with a jetpack.
11.The villain vents superheated plasma into the hall, then hacks the security mainframe.
12.The villain tears a warp tunnel through the bulkhead, then blocks the pursuit with meteor shields.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Astra Nebula Sabotage
Culprit: Anousheh Ansari (Warp Tunneling · Cybernetic Hacking · Wears Left Wrist Computer · Floating Blue Hair · EMP Blast)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SABOTEUR DOES NOT HAVE SOLAR CHARGING"9 × 5 = 45 (T) · 10 × 5 = 50 (C) · 9 × 12 = 108 (A) · 8 × 8 = 64 (V) · 5 × 1 = 5 (S) · 9 × 11 = 99 (U) · 3 × 11 = 33 (O) · 8 × 10 = 80 (L) · 11 × 5 = 55 (G) · 5 × 3 = 15 (H) · 9 × 4 = 36 (I) · 4 × 12 = 48 (N) · 4 × 5 = 20 (R) · 10 × 7 = 70 (D) · 11 × 10 = 110 (B) · 6 × 2 = 12 (E)
- Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "LEFT WRIST COMPUTER GLOWED IN THE DARKNESS"1/6 of 48 = 8 (L) · 3/5 of 55 = 33 (F) · 4/10 of 75 = 30 (E) · 2/6 of 93 = 31 (K) · 5/10 of 68 = 34 (W) · 6/10 of 65 = 39 (O) · 1/6 of 102 = 17 (I) · 1/5 of 105 = 21 (N) · 1/4 of 92 = 23 (P) · 1/5 of 190 = 38 (H) · 1/3 of 48 = 16 (C) · 1/2 of 10 = 5 (U) · 5/10 of 4 = 2 (D) · 5/10 of 38 = 19 (T) · 2/6 of 96 = 32 (A) · 1/4 of 100 = 25 (G) · 2/8 of 88 = 22 (M) · 1/10 of 110 = 11 (S) · 2/4 of 36 = 18 (R)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "AN EMP BLAST SHUT DOWN THE POWER SUIT"59 + 7 × 3 = 80 (A) · 31 + 7 × 4 = 59 (R) · 9 × 10 - 27 = 63 (M) · 7 × 9 - 10 = 53 (I) · 25 + 9 × 6 = 79 (O) · 11 × 5 - 19 = 36 (W) · 2 × 9 - 1 = 17 (S) · 11 × 9 - 24 = 75 (U) · 46 + 2 × 4 = 54 (T) · 6 + 3 × 4 = 18 (B) · 10 × 7 - 19 = 51 (E) · 15 + 8 × 5 = 55 (D) · 9 × 11 - 30 = 69 (H) · 6 × 8 - 9 = 39 (N) · 9 × 11 - 21 = 78 (L) · 37 + 6 × 5 = 67 (P)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "LOOSE STRANDS OF FLOATING BLUE HAIR REMAINED"Round 193 to the nearest hundred = 200 (L) · Round 132 to the nearest ten = 130 (R) · Round 8,604 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (F) · Round 429 to the nearest ten = 430 (U) · Round 858 to the nearest hundred = 900 (N) · Round 2,083 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (A) · Round 665 to the nearest hundred = 700 (I) · Round 5,138 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (D) · Round 2,261 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (G) · Round 1,266 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (O) · Round 4,254 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (S) · Round 372 to the nearest ten = 370 (E) · Round 34 to the nearest ten = 30 (M) · Round 2,921 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (T) · Round 265 to the nearest hundred = 300 (H) · Round 70 to the nearest ten = 70 (B)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 4) → Anousheh Ansari99 ÷ 9 = 11 · 27 ÷ 9 = 3 · 14 ÷ 7 = 2 · 20 ÷ 4 = 5 · 10 ÷ 10 = 1 · 56 ÷ 7 = 8 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 120 ÷ 12 = 10 · 49 ÷ 7 = 7 · 60 ÷ 5 = 12 · 42 ÷ 7 = 6
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Astra Nebula Sabotage — set in Astra Nebula Outpost
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects