🚀 SpaceGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6RoundingFractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationDivision
The Nebula Station Sabotage
Someone has swiped the Hyper-Drive Core from Nebula Station Seven, leaving the entire base running on emergency solar sails! The culprit is one of twenty-four rookie astronauts. Detectives, we need to analyze the telemetry logs, decode the clues, and find the real Space Bandit before they warp out of the sector.
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 | Spacesuit Class | Thruster Pack | Oxygen Dial | Helmet Glow | System Vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Kelly | Cargo Suit | Solar Wing | Right Hand Gauge | Neon Green Glow | Solar Flares |
| Kalpana Chawla | Pilot Suit | Ion Boost | Right Hand Gauge | Neon Green Glow | Space Dust |
| Victor Glover | Cargo Suit | Warp Glide | Left Hand Gauge | Neon Green Glow | EMP Waves |
| James Lovell | Cargo Suit | Plasma Jet | Left Hand Gauge | Cosmic Blue Glow | EMP Waves |
| Fred Haise | Tech Suit | Solar Wing | Right Hand Gauge | Cosmic Blue Glow | Solar Flares |
| Alan Shepard | Tech Suit | Solar Wing | Right Hand Gauge | Crimson Red Glow | Space Dust |
| John Glenn | Pilot Suit | Quark Drive | Right Hand Gauge | Cosmic Blue Glow | Solar Flares |
| Neil Armstrong | Tech Suit | Solar Wing | Right Hand Gauge | Cosmic Blue Glow | Space Dust |
| Jack Swigert | Ranger Suit | Warp Glide | Right Hand Gauge | Crimson Red Glow | Space Dust |
| Valentina Tereshkova | Science Suit | Solar Wing | Right Hand Gauge | Cosmic Blue Glow | Solar Flares |
| Michael Collins | Tech Suit | Quark Drive | Right Hand Gauge | Neon Green Glow | Space Dust |
| Scott Kelly | Ranger Suit | Ion Boost | Right Hand Gauge | Cosmic Blue Glow | Solar Flares |
| Christina Koch | Tech Suit | Warp Glide | Right Hand Gauge | Cosmic Blue Glow | Solar Flares |
| Yuri Gagarin | Ranger Suit | Ion Boost | Right Hand Gauge | Cosmic Blue Glow | Space Dust |
| Jessica Meir | Cargo Suit | Ion Boost | Right Hand Gauge | Neon Green Glow | Space Dust |
| Sally Ride | Pilot Suit | Plasma Jet | Right Hand Gauge | Cosmic Blue Glow | EMP Waves |
| Guion Bluford | Tech Suit | Solar Wing | Right Hand Gauge | Neon Green Glow | Solar Flares |
| Buzz Aldrin | Pilot Suit | Ion Boost | Left Hand Gauge | Neon Green Glow | EMP Waves |
| Gene Cernan | Pilot Suit | Warp Glide | Right Hand Gauge | Cosmic Blue Glow | Space Dust |
| Mae Jemison | Cargo Suit | Quark Drive | Left Hand Gauge | Neon Green Glow | EMP Waves |
| Pete Conrad | Ranger Suit | Ion Boost | Left Hand Gauge | Cosmic Blue Glow | Solar Flares |
Clue 1
Rounding
The dock radar registered a blurry ship speed. We must round this number to the nearest ten to clear up the sensor feed.
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
370
5000
90
9000
2300
30
230
4300
T
370
230
430
90
3000
30
430
T
370
900
3000
90
T
370
5000
90
50
900
2300
290
700
230
290
4300
110
90
Round 373 to the nearest tenT
Round 3,252 to the nearest thousandS
Round 53 to the nearest tenQ
Round 293 to the nearest tenR
Round 9,266 to the nearest thousandB
Round 4,272 to the nearest hundredI
Round 234 to the nearest tenD
Round 5,160 to the nearest thousandH
Round 723 to the nearest hundredK
Round 917 to the nearest hundredU
Round 111 to the nearest tenV
Round 29 to the nearest tenN
Round 431 to the nearest tenO
Round 86 to the nearest tenE
Round 2,293 to the nearest hundredA
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Fractions of a number
The thief jammed the control console. To reboot it, we must calculate a specific fraction of the remaining backup batteries.
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
11
6
5
17
19
36
6
T
11
6
16
40
34
36
16
8
36
5
3
16
26
28
35
16
26
6
19
40
36
2/8 of 44 =T
1/10 of 170 =R
2/10 of 130 =S
5/6 of 6 =E
1/4 of 112 =F
2/3 of 51 =D
3/6 of 6 =W
1/2 of 16 =U
1/6 of 96 =A
2/4 of 80 =N
4/10 of 15 =H
2/10 of 180 =G
2/6 of 105 =L
1/5 of 95 =I
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
We found a locked data pad containing flight logs. Solve the multi step formula in the correct order to crack the passcode.
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
10
77
78
22
19
37
47
80
T
10
56
39
78
47
56
52
14
25
79
14
39
19
52
56
39
19
52
78
79
4 + 3 × 2 =T
60 + 6 × 3 =E
8 × 11 - 11 =H
10 × 4 - 15 =M
8 × 4 - 10 =B
6 × 11 - 10 =F
7 × 6 - 23 =A
4 + 5 × 2 =O
4 × 10 - 1 =L
9 × 12 - 29 =S
7 × 9 - 26 =N
11 + 9 × 4 =D
9 × 12 - 28 =I
9 × 9 - 29 =R
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The crew needs to count the emergency rations left in the storage bays. Multiply the crates by the packs inside each one.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
7
10
15
48
W
7
48
81
25
15
99
50
81
2
120
72
10
35
120
25
W
7
48
132
132
28
10
15
81
10
40
10
7 × 1 =W
5 × 7 =G
6 × 12 =U
12 × 11 =T
8 × 6 =A
9 × 9 =C
4 × 7 =H
1 × 10 =E
10 × 4 =N
3 × 5 =S
5 × 10 =I
12 × 10 =L
11 × 9 =M
5 × 5 =O
2 × 1 =B
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
To keep the station steady, we must distribute the remaining fuel equally among the surviving thruster pods.
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
28 ÷ 7 = ?
55 ÷ 5 = ?
50 ÷ 10 = ?
60 ÷ 5 = ?
84 ÷ 12 = ?
9 ÷ 1 = ?
90 ÷ 9 = ?
6 ÷ 6 = ?
36 ÷ 12 = ?
72 ÷ 9 = ?
48 ÷ 8 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scrambled the radar array, then hid in the cargo pod.
2.The villain bypassed the airlock, then escaped in a scout ship.
3.The villain hacked the bridge console, then drifted past the orbital ring.
4.The villain scrambled the radar array, then drifted past the orbital ring.
5.The villain scrambled the radar array, then warped through an asteroid belt.
6.The villain bypassed the airlock, then drifted past the orbital ring.
7.The villain bypassed the airlock, then hid in the cargo pod.
8.The villain unlocked the hangar bay, then zipped away on a space walk.
9.The villain scrambled the radar array, then zipped away on a space walk.
10.The villain drained the power grid, then zipped away on a space walk.
11.The villain unlocked the hangar bay, then warped through an asteroid belt.
12.The villain hacked the bridge console, then hid in the cargo pod.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Nebula Station Sabotage
Culprit: Scott Kelly (Ranger Suit · Ion Boost · Right Hand Gauge · Cosmic Blue Glow · Solar Flares)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT USE THE QUARK DRIVE"Round 373 to the nearest ten = 370 (T) · Round 3,252 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (S) · Round 53 to the nearest ten = 50 (Q) · Round 293 to the nearest ten = 290 (R) · Round 9,266 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (B) · Round 4,272 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (I) · Round 234 to the nearest ten = 230 (D) · Round 5,160 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (H) · Round 723 to the nearest hundred = 700 (K) · Round 917 to the nearest hundred = 900 (U) · Round 111 to the nearest ten = 110 (V) · Round 29 to the nearest ten = 30 (N) · Round 431 to the nearest ten = 430 (O) · Round 86 to the nearest ten = 90 (E) · Round 2,293 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (A)
- Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "THE RIGHT HAND GAUGE WAS FLASHING"2/8 of 44 = 11 (T) · 1/10 of 170 = 17 (R) · 2/10 of 130 = 26 (S) · 5/6 of 6 = 5 (E) · 1/4 of 112 = 28 (F) · 2/3 of 51 = 34 (D) · 3/6 of 6 = 3 (W) · 1/2 of 16 = 8 (U) · 1/6 of 96 = 16 (A) · 2/4 of 80 = 40 (N) · 4/10 of 15 = 6 (H) · 2/10 of 180 = 36 (G) · 2/6 of 105 = 35 (L) · 1/5 of 95 = 19 (I)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE BANDIT FLED FROM SOLAR FLARES"4 + 3 × 2 = 10 (T) · 60 + 6 × 3 = 78 (E) · 8 × 11 - 11 = 77 (H) · 10 × 4 - 15 = 25 (M) · 8 × 4 - 10 = 22 (B) · 6 × 11 - 10 = 56 (F) · 7 × 6 - 23 = 19 (A) · 4 + 5 × 2 = 14 (O) · 4 × 10 - 1 = 39 (L) · 9 × 12 - 29 = 79 (S) · 7 × 9 - 26 = 37 (N) · 11 + 9 × 4 = 47 (D) · 9 × 12 - 28 = 80 (I) · 9 × 9 - 29 = 52 (R)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE SAW A COSMIC BLUE GLOW AT THE SCENE"7 × 1 = 7 (W) · 5 × 7 = 35 (G) · 6 × 12 = 72 (U) · 12 × 11 = 132 (T) · 8 × 6 = 48 (A) · 9 × 9 = 81 (C) · 4 × 7 = 28 (H) · 1 × 10 = 10 (E) · 10 × 4 = 40 (N) · 3 × 5 = 15 (S) · 5 × 10 = 50 (I) · 12 × 10 = 120 (L) · 11 × 9 = 99 (M) · 5 × 5 = 25 (O) · 2 × 1 = 2 (B)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 2) → Scott Kelly28 ÷ 7 = 4 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 50 ÷ 10 = 5 · 60 ÷ 5 = 12 · 84 ÷ 12 = 7 · 9 ÷ 1 = 9 · 90 ÷ 9 = 10 · 6 ÷ 6 = 1 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 72 ÷ 9 = 8 · 48 ÷ 8 = 6
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Nebula Station Sabotage — set in Nebula Station Seven
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects