🚀 SpaceGrade 7Reading: grades 5-6IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations

The Nebula Station Heist

A sneaky saboteur has broken into the main vault of Nebula Outpost Omega. They have locked the crew out of the control deck and scrambled the flight paths. Our Stellar Patrol team must crack the codes, track down the culprit, and save the station before it drifts into the asteroid belt.

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 Tool	Secondary Tool	Tablet Grip	Spacesuit Patch Color	System Vulnerability
Guion Bluford	hacking pad	drone swarm	left-handed stylus use	bright orange patch	strong magnetic fields
Jack Swigert	hacking pad	cloaking field	right-handed stylus use	neon green patch	high-frequency radio static
Michael Collins	jetpack	sonic disruptor	right-handed stylus use	bright orange patch	ultra-bright floodlights
Franklin Chang-Diaz	jetpack	EMP device	right-handed stylus use	glowing purple patch	high-frequency radio static
Margaret Hamilton	plasma torch	EMP device	left-handed stylus use	neon green patch	strong magnetic fields
Neil Armstrong	plasma torch	cloaking field	left-handed stylus use	bright orange patch	strong magnetic fields
John Glenn	hacking pad	force shield	right-handed stylus use	glowing purple patch	strong magnetic fields
Alan Shepard	jetpack	sonic disruptor	left-handed stylus use	bright orange patch	high-frequency radio static
Buzz Aldrin	plasma torch	EMP device	right-handed stylus use	glowing purple patch	strong magnetic fields
Sally Ride	hacking pad	EMP device	right-handed stylus use	glowing purple patch	strong magnetic fields
Judith Resnik	laser cutter	force shield	right-handed stylus use	neon green patch	high-frequency radio static
Jim Lovell	jetpack	cloaking field	left-handed stylus use	glowing purple patch	high-frequency radio static
Valentina Tereshkova	hacking pad	drone swarm	right-handed stylus use	glowing purple patch	strong magnetic fields
Yuri Gagarin	laser cutter	drone swarm	right-handed stylus use	glowing purple patch	strong magnetic fields
Carl Sagan	hacking pad	EMP device	right-handed stylus use	neon green patch	strong magnetic fields
Chris Hadfield	laser cutter	force shield	right-handed stylus use	bright orange patch	ultra-bright floodlights
Pete Conrad	plasma torch	EMP device	left-handed stylus use	bright orange patch	strong magnetic fields
Mae Jemison	plasma torch	drone swarm	right-handed stylus use	neon green patch	ultra-bright floodlights
Ellen Ochoa	jetpack	EMP device	left-handed stylus use	glowing purple patch	strong magnetic fields
Fred Haise	hacking pad	drone swarm	left-handed stylus use	neon green patch	high-frequency radio static
Kalpana Chawla	jetpack	drone swarm	right-handed stylus use	neon green patch	strong magnetic fields

Clue 1

Integers

To unlock the frozen vault door, we must calculate the exact temperature drops. The climate controls show deep-space levels below zero. Solve this integer puzzle to crack the seal.

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

14 - (-14) =T

(-15) + 17 =A

(-7) + 29 =R

(-11) + 24 =O

(-2) + 21 =I

(-13) + 28 =L

(-5) + 35 =E

11 - (-14) =C

11 - (-10) =D

13 - (-4) =S

5 - (-13) =F

(-7) + 27 =H

24 - (-5) =N

(-11) + 37 =V

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Percentages

The station computer is running a deep scan on the corrupted files. It shows what percentage of the mainframe has been restored so far. Find the percentage to unlock the next file.

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% of 940 =R

40% of 65 =N

75% of 68 =D

5% of 220 =I

20% of 10 =C

5% of 340 =K

5% of 680 =G

40% of 145 =L

5% of 580 =A

50% of 72 =T

50% of 114 =E

20% of 70 =H

50% of 88 =P

50% of 66 =S

10% of 590 =O

5% of 500 =M

0/16 letters found

Clue 3

Order of operations

The saboteur left a locked security pad. We have to solve the equation in the exact right order of priority to bypass the lock. Put the operations in order to get the code.

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

111

116

111

108

105

29 + 6 × 7 =V

8 + 3 × 9 =S

38 + 7 × 3 =R

73 + 8 × 4 =C

8 × 10 - 22 =A

12 × 11 - 16 =L

2 + 6 × 2 =O

75 + 2 × 3 =N

29 + 2 × 8 =M

16 + 4 × 4 =T

10 × 12 - 12 =F

81 + 3 × 6 =E

8 + 3 × 7 =H

5 × 12 - 5 =G

91 + 5 × 4 =I

0/15 letters found

Clue 4

Exponents

Tiny nanobots are multiplying fast inside the main generator. Their power level grows exponentially every second. Calculate the total power of the bots to shut them down.

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

128

343

128

169

289

400

128

169

216

144

2^7 =P

3^3 =R

2^2 =N

9^2 =T

2^3 =V

13^2 =L

4^2 =F

4^3 =E

7^3 =U

12^2 =H

6^3 =I

20^2 =A

17^2 =S

5^2 =C

0/14 letters found

Clue 5

Two-step equations — the last clue

We found a heavy canister of stolen asteroid dust. To find the dust weight, we must subtract the canister shell and divide the rest. Solve this two-step equation to read the scale.

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

3x + 4 = 25, x = ?

4x + 9 = 13, x = ?

3x + 6 = 15, x = ?

2x + 6 = 10, x = ?

2x + 1 = 17, x = ?

4x + 3 = 23, x = ?

6x + 12 = 78, x = ?

4x + 3 = 39, x = ?

2x + 3 = 11, x = ?

3x + 10 = 40, x = ?

4x + 3 = 27, x = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain sabotaged the life support generator, then floated up to the observation deck.

2.The villain locked the main laboratory door, then zipped away in an escape pod.

3.The villain scrambled the navigation coordinates, then floated up to the observation deck.

4.The villain scrambled the navigation coordinates, then slid into the dark cargo bay.

5.The villain sabotaged the life support generator, then zipped away in an escape pod.

6.The villain locked the main laboratory door, then scuttled down the maintenance pipe.

7.The villain scrambled the navigation coordinates, then escaped through the waste chute.

8.The villain locked the main laboratory door, then escaped through the waste chute.

9.The villain drained the auxiliary fuel reserve, then floated up to the observation deck.

10.The villain overrode the automatic pilot system, then floated up to the observation deck.

11.The villain scrambled the navigation coordinates, then scuttled down the maintenance pipe.

12.The villain drained the auxiliary fuel reserve, then escaped through the waste chute.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Nebula Station Heist

Culprit: Buzz Aldrin (plasma torch · EMP device · right-handed stylus use · glowing purple patch · strong magnetic fields)

Clue 1 (Integers): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT HAVE A FORCE SHIELD"
14 - (-14) = 28 (T) · (-15) + 17 = 2 (A) · (-7) + 29 = 22 (R) · (-11) + 24 = 13 (O) · (-2) + 21 = 19 (I) · (-13) + 28 = 15 (L) · (-5) + 35 = 30 (E) · 11 - (-14) = 25 (C) · 11 - (-10) = 21 (D) · 13 - (-4) = 17 (S) · 5 - (-13) = 18 (F) · (-7) + 27 = 20 (H) · 24 - (-5) = 29 (N) · (-11) + 37 = 26 (V)
Clue 2 (Percentages): "RIGHT HANDED GRIP MARKS ON THE AIRLOCK DOOR"
5% of 940 = 47 (R) · 40% of 65 = 26 (N) · 75% of 68 = 51 (D) · 5% of 220 = 11 (I) · 20% of 10 = 2 (C) · 5% of 340 = 17 (K) · 5% of 680 = 34 (G) · 40% of 145 = 58 (L) · 5% of 580 = 29 (A) · 50% of 72 = 36 (T) · 50% of 114 = 57 (E) · 20% of 70 = 14 (H) · 50% of 88 = 44 (P) · 50% of 66 = 33 (S) · 10% of 590 = 59 (O) · 5% of 500 = 25 (M)
Clue 3 (Order of operations): "VILLAIN RAN FROM THE CARGO MAGNETS"
29 + 6 × 7 = 71 (V) · 8 + 3 × 9 = 35 (S) · 38 + 7 × 3 = 59 (R) · 73 + 8 × 4 = 105 (C) · 8 × 10 - 22 = 58 (A) · 12 × 11 - 16 = 116 (L) · 2 + 6 × 2 = 14 (O) · 75 + 2 × 3 = 81 (N) · 29 + 2 × 8 = 45 (M) · 16 + 4 × 4 = 32 (T) · 10 × 12 - 12 = 108 (F) · 81 + 3 × 6 = 99 (E) · 8 + 3 × 7 = 29 (H) · 5 × 12 - 5 = 55 (G) · 91 + 5 × 4 = 111 (I)
Clue 4 (Exponents): "PURPLE SCRAP LEFT IN THE VENT"
2^7 = 128 (P) · 3^3 = 27 (R) · 2^2 = 4 (N) · 9^2 = 81 (T) · 2^3 = 8 (V) · 13^2 = 169 (L) · 4^2 = 16 (F) · 4^3 = 64 (E) · 7^3 = 343 (U) · 12^2 = 144 (H) · 6^3 = 216 (I) · 20^2 = 400 (A) · 17^2 = 289 (S) · 5^2 = 25 (C)
Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 12) → Buzz Aldrin
3x + 4 = 25, x = 7 · 4x + 9 = 13, x = 1 · 3x + 6 = 15, x = 3 · 2x + 6 = 10, x = 2 · 2x + 1 = 17, x = 8 · 4x + 3 = 23, x = 5 · 6x + 12 = 78, x = 11 · 4x + 3 = 39, x = 9 · 2x + 3 = 11, x = 4 · 3x + 10 = 40, x = 10 · 4x + 3 = 27, x = 6

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 7 math
Math topics: Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
Reading level: grades 5-6
Theme: The Nebula Station Heist — set in Nebula Outpost Omega
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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