The Starlight Station Sabotage
A rogue astronaut has locked down the main observatory at Starlight Station and scrambled the colony star-charts. We must trace the culprit's energy signature across the sector before our fleet goes off course!
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
| Name | Thruster Suit | Primary Tool | Control Grip | Helmet Stripe | Suit Vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Chaffee | Plasma Jet | Plasma Torch | Left-Handed Grip | Green Stripe | Solar Flares |
| Sunita Williams | Plasma Jet | Plasma Torch | Left-Handed Grip | Blue Stripe | Magnet Dust |
| Buzz Aldrin | Gravity Boots | Hydro Spanner | Right-Handed Grip | Blue Stripe | Magnet Dust |
| Alan Shepard | Plasma Jet | Hydro Spanner | Left-Handed Grip | Blue Stripe | Frost Gas |
| Chris Hadfield | Gravity Boots | Hydro Spanner | Left-Handed Grip | Red Stripe | Solar Flares |
| Scott Kelly | Ion Engine | Laser Welder | Right-Handed Grip | Blue Stripe | Magnet Dust |
| Mae Jemison | Fusion Pack | Plasma Torch | Left-Handed Grip | Blue Stripe | Magnet Dust |
| Frank Borman | Plasma Jet | Laser Welder | Left-Handed Grip | Blue Stripe | Magnet Dust |
| Fred Haise | Solar Sail | Laser Welder | Left-Handed Grip | Red Stripe | Magnet Dust |
| Peggy Whitson | Solar Sail | Sonic Cutter | Left-Handed Grip | Blue Stripe | Magnet Dust |
| Mark Kelly | Fusion Pack | Hydro Spanner | Right-Handed Grip | Blue Stripe | Magnet Dust |
| Tim Peake | Plasma Jet | Sonic Cutter | Left-Handed Grip | Red Stripe | Frost Gas |
| Kalpana Chawla | Ion Engine | Laser Welder | Left-Handed Grip | Red Stripe | Frost Gas |
| Sally Ride | Ion Engine | Laser Welder | Left-Handed Grip | Blue Stripe | Magnet Dust |
| Gene Cernan | Solar Sail | Laser Welder | Right-Handed Grip | Green Stripe | Solar Flares |
| Guion Bluford | Ion Engine | Hydro Spanner | Right-Handed Grip | Blue Stripe | Magnet Dust |
| Helen Sharman | Fusion Pack | Hydro Spanner | Left-Handed Grip | Red Stripe | Solar Flares |
| Valentina Tereshkova | Ion Engine | Nano Wrench | Right-Handed Grip | Red Stripe | Magnet Dust |
| Jim Lovell | Ion Engine | Hydro Spanner | Right-Handed Grip | Red Stripe | Magnet Dust |
| Ed White | Gravity Boots | Laser Welder | Right-Handed Grip | Green Stripe | Solar Flares |
| Michael Collins | Ion Engine | Sonic Cutter | Left-Handed Grip | Green Stripe | Solar Flares |
Addition
To unlock the dock archives, we must calculate the total number of active radar satellites by adding up the tallies from all four space sectors.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Subtraction
A damaged utility line is leaking fuel. We must subtract the wasted canisters from our total reserves to see how long our backup sensors will last.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The shuttle hangar holds our emergency tracking probes, neatly arranged in rows. We must multiply the rows by the columns to count our cameras.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Fractions of a number
Only a fraction of our giant solar array is active after the power surge. We must find exactly three-fifths of the total output to reboot the main terminal.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The cargo bay computer holds encrypted distress signals. We must divide the total data files equally among the patrol bots to crack the final code.
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!
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Starlight Station Sabotage
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE ROGUE ASTRONAUT DOES NOT USE THE SONIC CUTTER"4157 + 3968 = 8125 (T) · 986 + 1355 = 2341 (U) · 3847 + 4411 = 8258 (I) · 3313 + 1496 = 4809 (H) · 5067 + 3931 = 8998 (N) · 3290 + 6212 = 9502 (S) · 5856 + 3904 = 9760 (D) · 2635 + 2197 = 4832 (R) · 3840 + 2911 = 6751 (G) · 2799 + 6176 = 8975 (E) · 3095 + 5036 = 8131 (C) · 3397 + 3304 = 6701 (O) · 1364 + 3029 = 4393 (A)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE SUSPECT USED A LEFT HANDED GRIP ON THE LEVER"12677 - 4924 = 7753 (T) · 12513 - 4304 = 8209 (D) · 12111 - 4347 = 7764 (S) · 5523 - 1806 = 3717 (E) · 10030 - 4133 = 5897 (L) · 7572 - 3422 = 4150 (A) · 3499 - 306 = 3193 (P) · 6216 - 3702 = 2514 (U) · 4858 - 1731 = 3127 (C) · 11657 - 2839 = 8818 (H) · 5670 - 2642 = 3028 (I) · 6820 - 769 = 6051 (N) · 4413 - 833 = 3580 (R) · 8135 - 2382 = 5753 (G) · 4227 - 2636 = 1591 (O) · 5411 - 227 = 5184 (F) · 6582 - 3100 = 3482 (V)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "MAGNET DUST TOTALLY JAMMED THE VILLAIN"8 × 4 = 32 (M) · 3 × 11 = 33 (E) · 11 × 11 = 121 (S) · 7 × 5 = 35 (I) · 9 × 10 = 90 (U) · 10 × 2 = 20 (H) · 11 × 8 = 88 (L) · 11 × 7 = 77 (G) · 9 × 7 = 63 (V) · 1 × 7 = 7 (D) · 11 × 4 = 44 (J) · 3 × 4 = 12 (N) · 10 × 11 = 110 (T) · 8 × 2 = 16 (O) · 8 × 10 = 80 (A) · 9 × 6 = 54 (Y)
- Clue 4 (Fractions of a number): "THE SENSOR DETECTED BLUE HELMET GLOW"1/2 of 12 = 6 (T) · 4/8 of 30 = 15 (N) · 1/2 of 78 = 39 (R) · 2/10 of 180 = 36 (O) · 2/6 of 111 = 37 (C) · 1/4 of 88 = 22 (M) · 2/6 of 21 = 7 (G) · 1/6 of 156 = 26 (U) · 3/10 of 40 = 12 (H) · 1/5 of 175 = 35 (B) · 1/4 of 80 = 20 (S) · 1/6 of 144 = 24 (L) · 4/6 of 21 = 14 (D) · 2/6 of 33 = 11 (W) · 2/6 of 51 = 17 (E)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Sunita Williams30 ÷ 6 = 5 · 108 ÷ 12 = 9 · 30 ÷ 10 = 3 · 10 ÷ 1 = 10 · 12 ÷ 1 = 12 · 88 ÷ 11 = 8 · 12 ÷ 6 = 2 · 66 ÷ 11 = 6 · 8 ÷ 2 = 4 · 21 ÷ 3 = 7 · 4 ÷ 4 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Fractions of a number, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Starlight Station Sabotage — set in Starlight Station, Orbit of Saturn
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects