🚀 SpaceGrade 6Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationSkip countingSubtractionAdditionDivision
The Nebula Orchid Heist
A rogue astronaut has snicked into the Lunar Canopy and stolen the rare Nebula Orchid! We must scan the crew logs, track the clues, and stop them before they board the escape pod.
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 upgrade | laser gadget | visor tint | helmet decal | suit exploit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joan Higginbotham | jetpack boost | stasis beam | silver visor | rocket decal | magnet pull |
| Tim Peake | gravity boots | emp pulse | silver visor | rocket decal | magnet pull |
| Yi So-yeon | gravity boots | emp pulse | gold visor | rocket decal | magnet pull |
| Ellen Ochoa | gravity boots | matter beam | silver visor | star decal | static shock |
| Alan Shepard | gravity boots | matter beam | gold visor | star decal | magnet pull |
| Guion Bluford | jetpack boost | laser drill | gold visor | comet decal | magnet pull |
| Sunita Williams | scanner visor | matter beam | silver visor | rocket decal | magnet pull |
| Scott Kelly | jetpack boost | stasis beam | silver visor | rocket decal | solar flare |
| Chris Hadfield | plasma cutter | stasis beam | gold visor | star decal | solar flare |
| Leland Melvin | gravity boots | matter beam | gold visor | comet decal | static shock |
| Charles Bolden | scanner visor | matter beam | gold visor | comet decal | magnet pull |
| Valentina Tereshkova | jetpack boost | ion blaster | silver visor | rocket decal | magnet pull |
| Kalpana Chawla | oxygen bypass | stasis beam | gold visor | comet decal | static shock |
| Bernard Harris | jetpack boost | ion blaster | gold visor | comet decal | solar flare |
| Neil Armstrong | plasma cutter | matter beam | silver visor | rocket decal | solar flare |
| Michael Collins | oxygen bypass | matter beam | silver visor | comet decal | magnet pull |
| Mae Jemison | jetpack boost | matter beam | gold visor | comet decal | solar flare |
| Peggy Whitson | gravity boots | stasis beam | gold visor | comet decal | static shock |
| Guy Bluford | oxygen bypass | emp pulse | gold visor | comet decal | magnet pull |
| Buzz Aldrin | scanner visor | ion blaster | gold visor | rocket decal | magnet pull |
| Samantha Cristoforetti | oxygen bypass | stasis beam | silver visor | rocket decal | magnet pull |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We found the fuel canister racks in the cargo bay arranged in equal rows. Multiply the rows to find the exact number of used canisters left by the thief.
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
121
18
40
49
16
48
36
40
55
16
40
63
14
16
T
121
18
110
144
40
110
14
40
1
132
132
36
54
63
40
11 × 11 =T
10 × 11 =A
1 × 1 =M
12 × 12 =V
12 × 11 =P
7 × 7 =R
9 × 6 =L
2 × 7 =N
10 × 4 =E
4 × 12 =G
2 × 8 =O
9 × 7 =S
3 × 12 =U
9 × 2 =H
11 × 5 =D
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Skip counting
The security lights blink at steady, timed intervals. Count the flashes by skips of five to figure out how many seconds the thief had to escape the camera.
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
24
28
60
36
45
20
15
25
25
60
120
65
60
90
T
24
60
14
6
90
15
15
65
20
45
65
36
60
25
65
45
70
28
T
24
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, ___, 26, 28T
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, ___, 80, 90G
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, ___, 100, 110C
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35R
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ___, 16, 18D
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42V
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, ___, 70, 75L
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, ___, 130, 140F
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, ___, 18, 21O
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, ___, 65, 70E
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10A
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55I
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32H
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, ___, 25, 30S
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The emergency oxygen reserve was drained during the break-in. Subtract the current pressure from the starting limit to see how much gas was stolen.
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
6613
4407
5482
1520
7935
7238
T
6613
2535
5482
2797
7706
T
6613
1520
T
6613
8339
2797
1520
T
6613
2535
8339
5390
6107
8016
2797
6107
5390
5482
T
6613
9471 - 2858 =T
9380 - 1445 =U
6272 - 4752 =S
4794 - 2259 =R
6479 - 1089 =N
3315 - 518 =A
12809 - 4470 =O
9157 - 3050 =G
9598 - 2360 =I
6344 - 1937 =H
8359 - 343 =M
10117 - 2411 =C
5668 - 186 =E
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Addition
Our droid collected broken suit pieces from different parts of the dome. Add the scrap counts together to see the total number of parts the rogue left behind.
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
4024
4585
9587
4585
9587
6037
9340
9587
T
4024
3010
4585
3148
6855
9587
5087
6737
3010
4585
5315
7742
9766
8782
3148
3620
8085
9587
T
4024
5087
9587
3620
6737
6037
1333 + 2691 =T
2366 + 2949 =I
3989 + 5777 =Y
2488 + 3549 =L
1613 + 3474 =D
3123 + 6217 =M
2084 + 4771 =W
2109 + 1039 =O
3203 + 4539 =N
3154 + 4931 =K
2885 + 6702 =E
2521 + 1099 =C
2760 + 1825 =H
1987 + 1023 =S
3082 + 3655 =A
4763 + 4019 =R
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
A pack of emergency rations was shared equally among the security robots. Divide the total bars by the number of active bots to trace the thief's path.
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
24 ÷ 8 = ?
35 ÷ 7 = ?
90 ÷ 9 = ?
27 ÷ 3 = ?
16 ÷ 4 = ?
48 ÷ 4 = ?
6 ÷ 3 = ?
36 ÷ 6 = ?
21 ÷ 3 = ?
3 ÷ 3 = ?
32 ÷ 4 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain activated the oxygen bypass, then melted the vault using a laser drill.
2.The villain fired up the jetpack boost, then beamed the loot away with a matter beam.
3.The villain activated the oxygen bypass, then froze the guards with a stasis beam.
4.The villain sliced the lock with a plasma cutter, then froze the guards with a stasis beam.
5.The villain fired up the jetpack boost, then zapped the defense grid with an ion blaster.
6.The villain turned on the scanner visor, then melted the vault using a laser drill.
7.The villain sliced the lock with a plasma cutter, then beamed the loot away with a matter beam.
8.The villain turned on the scanner visor, then zapped the defense grid with an ion blaster.
9.The villain activated the oxygen bypass, then zapped the defense grid with an ion blaster.
10.The villain fired up the jetpack boost, then froze the guards with a stasis beam.
11.The villain turned on the scanner visor, then beamed the loot away with a matter beam.
12.The villain sliced the lock with a plasma cutter, then zapped the defense grid with an ion blaster.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Nebula Orchid Heist
Culprit: Sunita Williams (scanner visor · matter beam · silver visor · rocket decal · magnet pull)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE ROGUE DOES NOT HAVE AN EMP PULSE"11 × 11 = 121 (T) · 10 × 11 = 110 (A) · 1 × 1 = 1 (M) · 12 × 12 = 144 (V) · 12 × 11 = 132 (P) · 7 × 7 = 49 (R) · 9 × 6 = 54 (L) · 2 × 7 = 14 (N) · 10 × 4 = 40 (E) · 4 × 12 = 48 (G) · 2 × 8 = 16 (O) · 9 × 7 = 63 (S) · 3 × 12 = 36 (U) · 9 × 2 = 18 (H) · 11 × 5 = 55 (D)
- Clue 2 (Skip counting): "THE VISOR REFLECTED A COOL SILVER LIGHT"Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, ___, 26, 28 = 24 (T) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, ___, 80, 90 = 70 (G) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, ___, 100, 110 = 90 (C) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35 = 25 (R) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ___, 16, 18 = 14 (D) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42 = 36 (V) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, ___, 70, 75 = 65 (L) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, ___, 130, 140 = 120 (F) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, ___, 18, 21 = 15 (O) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, ___, 65, 70 = 60 (E) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10 = 6 (A) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55 = 45 (I) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32 = 28 (H) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, ___, 25, 30 = 20 (S)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE SUIT REACTS TO A STRONG MAGNET"9471 - 2858 = 6613 (T) · 9380 - 1445 = 7935 (U) · 6272 - 4752 = 1520 (S) · 4794 - 2259 = 2535 (R) · 6479 - 1089 = 5390 (N) · 3315 - 518 = 2797 (A) · 12809 - 4470 = 8339 (O) · 9157 - 3050 = 6107 (G) · 9598 - 2360 = 7238 (I) · 6344 - 1937 = 4407 (H) · 8359 - 343 = 8016 (M) · 10117 - 2411 = 7706 (C) · 5668 - 186 = 5482 (E)
- Clue 4 (Addition): "THE HELMET SHOWED A SHINY ROCKET DECAL"1333 + 2691 = 4024 (T) · 2366 + 2949 = 5315 (I) · 3989 + 5777 = 9766 (Y) · 2488 + 3549 = 6037 (L) · 1613 + 3474 = 5087 (D) · 3123 + 6217 = 9340 (M) · 2084 + 4771 = 6855 (W) · 2109 + 1039 = 3148 (O) · 3203 + 4539 = 7742 (N) · 3154 + 4931 = 8085 (K) · 2885 + 6702 = 9587 (E) · 2521 + 1099 = 3620 (C) · 2760 + 1825 = 4585 (H) · 1987 + 1023 = 3010 (S) · 3082 + 3655 = 6737 (A) · 4763 + 4019 = 8782 (R)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Sunita Williams24 ÷ 8 = 3 · 35 ÷ 7 = 5 · 90 ÷ 9 = 10 · 27 ÷ 3 = 9 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 48 ÷ 4 = 12 · 6 ÷ 3 = 2 · 36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 21 ÷ 3 = 7 · 3 ÷ 3 = 1 · 32 ÷ 4 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 6 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Skip counting, Subtraction, Addition, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Nebula Orchid Heist — set in the Lunar Canopy Research Dome
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects