🚀 SpaceGrade 9Reading: grades 7-9Two-step equationsExponentsSquare rootsIntegers

The Aurora Outpost Emergency

A rogue saboteur has locked down the main reactor of the Aurora-9 Orbital Research Outpost, trapping the Chief Astrophysicist inside! The station's oxygen levels are slowly dropping. You must crack the security grid to identify the saboteur before time runs out.

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 Skill	Specialized Tech	Observed Grip	Helmet Stripe	Suit Vulnerability
Franklin Chang	thruster sabotage	oxygen scrubbers	left handed grip	gold helmet stripe	magnetic fields
Neil Armstrong	quantum stealth	magnetic boots	right handed grip	gold helmet stripe	magnetic fields
Halley Comet	quantum stealth	magnetic boots	left handed grip	gold helmet stripe	strobe lights
Valentina Tereshkova	thruster sabotage	oxygen scrubbers	left handed grip	red helmet stripe	strobe lights
Michael Collins	quantum stealth	ion blasters	left handed grip	gold helmet stripe	strobe lights
Ellen Ochoa	plasma welding	magnetic boots	right handed grip	gold helmet stripe	strobe lights
James Webb	gravity manipulation	magnetic boots	left handed grip	gold helmet stripe	strobe lights
Isaac Asimov	cybernetic hacking	emp disruptor	left handed grip	red helmet stripe	strobe lights
Arthur Clarke	thruster sabotage	solar shields	right handed grip	gold helmet stripe	magnetic fields
Yuri Gagarin	quantum stealth	ion blasters	right handed grip	blue helmet stripe	magnetic fields
Mae Jemison	thruster sabotage	magnetic boots	right handed grip	gold helmet stripe	strobe lights
Buzz Aldrin	quantum stealth	solar shields	left handed grip	gold helmet stripe	magnetic fields
Guion Bluford	plasma welding	oxygen scrubbers	right handed grip	blue helmet stripe	strobe lights
Kalpana Chawla	cybernetic hacking	oxygen scrubbers	right handed grip	blue helmet stripe	magnetic fields
Hubble Edwin	thruster sabotage	magnetic boots	right handed grip	red helmet stripe	magnetic fields
John Glenn	cybernetic hacking	ion blasters	left handed grip	gold helmet stripe	coolant spray
Stephen Hawking	cybernetic hacking	ion blasters	right handed grip	gold helmet stripe	coolant spray
Kepler Johannes	cybernetic hacking	magnetic boots	left handed grip	gold helmet stripe	strobe lights
Sally Ride	thruster sabotage	oxygen scrubbers	left handed grip	gold helmet stripe	strobe lights
Chris Hadfield	gravity manipulation	emp disruptor	left handed grip	blue helmet stripe	strobe lights
Alan Shepard	quantum stealth	ion blasters	left handed grip	blue helmet stripe	strobe lights

Clue 1

Two-step equations

To unlock the secure database containing the first clue, you need to calculate the cargo weight of the titanium shipments. Solve this two-step equation to find the number of containers on board.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

4x + 3 = 11, x =T

3x + 10 = 25, x =O

9x + 9 = 135, x =B

4x + 1 = 69, x =I

7x + 12 = 145, x =H

4x + 4 = 32, x =U

8x + 3 = 75, x =V

7x + 4 = 116, x =D

6x + 2 = 74, x =E

7x + 11 = 39, x =S

8x + 11 = 99, x =N

2x + 7 = 49, x =R

5x + 9 = 49, x =L

5x + 9 = 39, x =A

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Exponents

The backup power grid operates on an exponential scale. To route energy to the decryption terminal, calculate the watt spike when the generator banks are raised to the correct power.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

441

324

100

225

100

256

625

256

225

169

100

256

225

441

324

196

100

441

324

100

169

225

400

21^2 =T

18^2 =H

2^3 =F

2^5 =D

4^2 =G

14^2 =L

7^2 =V

10^2 =E

5^4 =S

2^6 =A

2^8 =W

3^3 =C

2^2 =N

13^2 =R

20^2 =P

15^2 =I

0/16 letters found

Clue 3

Square roots

The thermal shield tiles are arranged in a perfect square. To find the boundary line of the safe zone, calculate the side length by taking the square root of the total grid area.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

sqrt(196) =F

sqrt(81) =R

sqrt(256) =I

sqrt(361) =L

sqrt(100) =O

sqrt(121) =T

sqrt(169) =H

sqrt(324) =E

sqrt(400) =G

sqrt(576) =N

sqrt(49) =A

sqrt(25) =D

sqrt(441) =S

sqrt(625) =B

0/14 letters found

Clue 4

Integers

The station's external sensors are fluctuating wildly in deep space. By adding the negative temperatures on the shadow side to the positive temperatures on the sunny side, you can balance the life-support 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.

(-5) + 30 =A

(-3) + 7 =C

18 - (-10) =T

(-11) + 37 =S

(-10) + 20 =W

28 - (-3) =I

10 - (-2) =P

12 - (-9) =H

33 - (-6) =O

14 - (-10) =N

(-4) + 7 =B

7 - (-13) =G

24 - (-8) =F

2 - (-11) =R

27 - (-11) =M

29 - (-6) =E

(-1) + 23 =D

3 - (-14) =L

0/18 letters found

Clue 5

Two-step equations — the last clue

The emergency oxygen reserve is depleting at a steady rate. You have a starting volume and a constant loss per minute. Solve this final two-step equation to discover how many minutes remain.

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

5x + 12 = 17, x = ?

5x + 3 = 48, x = ?

5x + 9 = 59, x = ?

6x + 8 = 80, x = ?

6x + 3 = 21, x = ?

8x + 11 = 75, x = ?

7x + 5 = 19, x = ?

7x + 6 = 48, x = ?

8x + 10 = 98, x = ?

2x + 10 = 20, x = ?

3x + 7 = 28, x = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain disabled the escape pods, then stole the backup oxygen scrubbers.

2.The villain disabled the escape pods, then triggered an emp pulse across the deck.

3.The villain altered the artificial gravity, then stole the backup oxygen scrubbers.

4.The villain hacked the security systems, then scaled the outer hull with magnetic boots.

5.The villain welded the airlock shut, then escaped through the solar shield array.

6.The villain altered the artificial gravity, then triggered an emp pulse across the deck.

7.The villain altered the artificial gravity, then escaped through the solar shield array.

8.The villain cloaked their heat signature, then escaped through the solar shield array.

9.The villain cloaked their heat signature, then scaled the outer hull with magnetic boots.

10.The villain altered the artificial gravity, then scaled the outer hull with magnetic boots.

11.The villain hacked the security systems, then blasted the main antenna with ion rays.

12.The villain cloaked their heat signature, then stole the backup oxygen scrubbers.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Aurora Outpost Emergency

Culprit: Kepler Johannes (cybernetic hacking · magnetic boots · left handed grip · gold helmet stripe · strobe lights)

Clue 1 (Two-step equations): "THE SABOTEUR DOES NOT HAVE ION BLASTERS"
4x + 3 = 11, x = 2 (T) · 3x + 10 = 25, x = 5 (O) · 9x + 9 = 135, x = 14 (B) · 4x + 1 = 69, x = 17 (I) · 7x + 12 = 145, x = 19 (H) · 4x + 4 = 32, x = 7 (U) · 8x + 3 = 75, x = 9 (V) · 7x + 4 = 116, x = 16 (D) · 6x + 2 = 74, x = 12 (E) · 7x + 11 = 39, x = 4 (S) · 8x + 11 = 99, x = 11 (N) · 2x + 7 = 49, x = 21 (R) · 5x + 9 = 49, x = 8 (L) · 5x + 9 = 39, x = 6 (A)
Clue 2 (Exponents): "THE DEVICE WAS WIRED WITH A LEFT HANDED GRIP"
21^2 = 441 (T) · 18^2 = 324 (H) · 2^3 = 8 (F) · 2^5 = 32 (D) · 4^2 = 16 (G) · 14^2 = 196 (L) · 7^2 = 49 (V) · 10^2 = 100 (E) · 5^4 = 625 (S) · 2^6 = 64 (A) · 2^8 = 256 (W) · 3^3 = 27 (C) · 2^2 = 4 (N) · 13^2 = 169 (R) · 20^2 = 400 (P) · 15^2 = 225 (I)
Clue 3 (Square roots): "FLASHING STROBE LIGHTS BLINDED THE TARGET"
sqrt(196) = 14 (F) · sqrt(81) = 9 (R) · sqrt(256) = 16 (I) · sqrt(361) = 19 (L) · sqrt(100) = 10 (O) · sqrt(121) = 11 (T) · sqrt(169) = 13 (H) · sqrt(324) = 18 (E) · sqrt(400) = 20 (G) · sqrt(576) = 24 (N) · sqrt(49) = 7 (A) · sqrt(25) = 5 (D) · sqrt(441) = 21 (S) · sqrt(625) = 25 (B)
Clue 4 (Integers): "A CHIP OF GOLD HELMET STRIPE WAS LEFT BEHIND"
(-5) + 30 = 25 (A) · (-3) + 7 = 4 (C) · 18 - (-10) = 28 (T) · (-11) + 37 = 26 (S) · (-10) + 20 = 10 (W) · 28 - (-3) = 31 (I) · 10 - (-2) = 12 (P) · 12 - (-9) = 21 (H) · 33 - (-6) = 39 (O) · 14 - (-10) = 24 (N) · (-4) + 7 = 3 (B) · 7 - (-13) = 20 (G) · 24 - (-8) = 32 (F) · 2 - (-11) = 13 (R) · 27 - (-11) = 38 (M) · 29 - (-6) = 35 (E) · (-1) + 23 = 22 (D) · 3 - (-14) = 17 (L)
Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 4) → Kepler Johannes
5x + 12 = 17, x = 1 · 5x + 3 = 48, x = 9 · 5x + 9 = 59, x = 10 · 6x + 8 = 80, x = 12 · 6x + 3 = 21, x = 3 · 8x + 11 = 75, x = 8 · 7x + 5 = 19, x = 2 · 7x + 6 = 48, x = 6 · 8x + 10 = 98, x = 11 · 2x + 10 = 20, x = 5 · 3x + 7 = 28, x = 7

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 9 math
Math topics: Two-step equations, Exponents, Square roots, Integers
Reading level: grades 7-9
Theme: The Aurora Outpost Emergency — set in Aurora-9 Orbital Research Outpost
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

More free printable math mysteries

9th grade worksheets Exponents worksheets Integers worksheets Square roots worksheets Two-step equations worksheets 🚀 Space worksheets All worksheets →

The Golden Wind-Vane Mystery

Grade 9

The Case of Mr. Nappi's Missing Pencils

Grade 9

The Case of the Missing Ticonderogas

Grade 9

The Silent Symphony

Grade 9