🚀 SpaceGrade 6Reading: grades 3-4Place valuePercentagesExponentsOrder of operationsDivision
The Telescope Trouble on Star Base Alpha
Someone scrambled the coordinates on the giant space telescope. Now the Chief Astronomer cannot find the new planet! We must track down the Cosmic Saboteur before they hide in 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 | Space Gear | Backpack Tool | Handedness | Helmet Highlight | System Glitch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalpana Chawla | energy shield | starlight cloak | left-handed writer | bright blue hair | magnetic fields |
| Edwin Hubble | jetpack wings | cosmic magnet | left-handed writer | neon green hair | solar flares |
| Chris Hadfield | energy shield | nebula dust | right-handed writer | neon green hair | magnetic fields |
| Carl Sagan | jetpack wings | starlight cloak | right-handed writer | bright blue hair | cosmic dust clouds |
| Valentina Tereshkova | gravity boots | gravity disruptor | left-handed writer | cosmic purple hair | magnetic fields |
| Guion Bluford | radar helmet | plasma torch | right-handed writer | cosmic purple hair | cosmic dust clouds |
| Neil Armstrong | jetpack wings | gravity disruptor | right-handed writer | neon green hair | magnetic fields |
| Katherine Johnson | gravity boots | starlight cloak | right-handed writer | bright blue hair | magnetic fields |
| Peggy Whitson | radar helmet | nebula dust | right-handed writer | neon green hair | magnetic fields |
| Alan Shepard | gravity boots | nebula dust | right-handed writer | bright blue hair | magnetic fields |
| Vera Rubin | gravity boots | nebula dust | left-handed writer | bright blue hair | magnetic fields |
| Ellen Ochoa | laser blaster | cosmic magnet | right-handed writer | cosmic purple hair | solar flares |
| Mae Jemison | energy shield | starlight cloak | left-handed writer | neon green hair | solar flares |
| Isaac Asimov | jetpack wings | cosmic magnet | right-handed writer | neon green hair | cosmic dust clouds |
| Stephen Hawking | gravity boots | gravity disruptor | right-handed writer | bright blue hair | magnetic fields |
| John Glenn | gravity boots | plasma torch | right-handed writer | cosmic purple hair | cosmic dust clouds |
| Yuri Gagarin | gravity boots | starlight cloak | right-handed writer | bright blue hair | solar flares |
| Franklin Chang | radar helmet | plasma torch | right-handed writer | cosmic purple hair | solar flares |
| Sally Ride | laser blaster | starlight cloak | right-handed writer | cosmic purple hair | magnetic fields |
| Buzz Aldrin | laser blaster | nebula dust | right-handed writer | bright blue hair | magnetic fields |
| Arthur Clarke | gravity boots | cosmic magnet | right-handed writer | bright blue hair | magnetic fields |
Clue 1
Place value
We found a weird signal on the main screen. The numbers are scrambled by their place values.
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
400
9000
20
600
30
4000
1000
T
400
20
3000
80
800
30
50
8000
600
T
400
9000
20
50
1000
600
6000
40
50
6000
30
700
300
20
T
400
What is the value of the 4 in 51,457?T
What is the value of the 3 in 522,376?N
What is the value of the 6 in 16,544?M
What is the value of the 3 in 483,469?U
What is the value of the 9 in 89,271?H
What is the value of the 8 in 99,684?R
What is the value of the 8 in 58,703?K
What is the value of the 2 in 843,829?E
What is the value of the 3 in 18,538?A
What is the value of the 6 in 97,632?S
What is the value of the 5 in 767,053?C
What is the value of the 4 in 24,096?B
What is the value of the 8 in 355,801?L
What is the value of the 4 in 37,345?I
What is the value of the 7 in 685,708?G
What is the value of the 1 in 321,896?O
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Percentages
The rocket ship fuel tank is almost empty. The dial shows the remaining power as a percentage.
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
7
44
41
8
16
T
7
T
7
18
34
35
17
13
43
23
41
13
13
41
45
8
30
17
23
4
20
44
T
7
44
17
34
45
10% of 70 =T
10% of 130 =S
10% of 230 =R
40% of 20 =B
60% of 75 =D
20% of 150 =Y
10% of 440 =H
10% of 340 =N
25% of 140 =W
75% of 24 =O
20% of 85 =A
25% of 16 =I
50% of 32 =U
50% of 82 =E
25% of 80 =G
25% of 172 =P
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
A cluster of space dust is growing fast. The radar counts the dust particles using exponents.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
M
64
256
25
400
324
121
343
289
128
343
324
4
361
144
144
16
36
121
361
9
27
400
121
16
324
343
216
25
324
256
216
2^6 =M
7^3 =I
18^2 =E
3^2 =O
4^2 =H
19^2 =D
2^7 =F
11^2 =T
12^2 =S
17^2 =C
5^2 =G
2^8 =A
20^2 =N
2^2 =L
6^2 =U
6^3 =R
3^3 =W
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
We must press the override buttons in a special order. We have to solve the equation using order of operations.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
50
41
23
68
24
26
57
41
58
47
65
44
57
23
A
50
73
29
76
A
50
44
68
73
57
26
65
80
A
50
38
14 + 9 × 4 =A
11 + 6 × 2 =R
6 + 3 × 6 =G
8 + 3 × 7 =D
7 × 10 - 2 =I
20 + 3 × 2 =H
14 + 3 × 9 =B
11 × 5 - 17 =P
12 × 7 - 11 =N
5 × 12 - 2 =L
10 × 7 - 26 =S
28 + 8 × 6 =W
47 + 2 × 5 =T
29 + 6 × 6 =E
32 + 8 × 6 =C
29 + 3 × 6 =U
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We have a pack of space snacks to share. We need to divide them up among the crew to get our energy back.
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
60 ÷ 10 = ?
80 ÷ 8 = ?
16 ÷ 2 = ?
14 ÷ 2 = ?
24 ÷ 12 = ?
36 ÷ 12 = ?
12 ÷ 3 = ?
36 ÷ 3 = ?
81 ÷ 9 = ?
12 ÷ 12 = ?
22 ÷ 2 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scans the area with a radar helmet, then blinds the cameras with nebula dust.
2.The villain scans the area with a radar helmet, then floats the cargo using a gravity disruptor.
3.The villain flies past with jetpack wings, then blinds the cameras with nebula dust.
4.The villain zaps the console with a laser blaster, then cuts through the lock with a plasma torch.
5.The villain zaps the console with a laser blaster, then blinds the cameras with nebula dust.
6.The villain clomps around in gravity boots, then vanishes under a starlight cloak.
7.The villain clomps around in gravity boots, then steals the tools with a cosmic magnet.
8.The villain clomps around in gravity boots, then floats the cargo using a gravity disruptor.
9.The villain scans the area with a radar helmet, then vanishes under a starlight cloak.
10.The villain clomps around in gravity boots, then blinds the cameras with nebula dust.
11.The villain blocks the doorway with an energy shield, then floats the cargo using a gravity disruptor.
12.The villain flies past with jetpack wings, then steals the tools with a cosmic magnet.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Telescope Trouble on Star Base Alpha
Culprit: Buzz Aldrin (laser blaster · nebula dust · right-handed writer · bright blue hair · magnetic fields)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE SABOTEUR LACKS THE COSMIC MAGNET"What is the value of the 4 in 51,457? = 400 (T) · What is the value of the 3 in 522,376? = 300 (N) · What is the value of the 6 in 16,544? = 6000 (M) · What is the value of the 3 in 483,469? = 3000 (U) · What is the value of the 9 in 89,271? = 9000 (H) · What is the value of the 8 in 99,684? = 80 (R) · What is the value of the 8 in 58,703? = 8000 (K) · What is the value of the 2 in 843,829? = 20 (E) · What is the value of the 3 in 18,538? = 30 (A) · What is the value of the 6 in 97,632? = 600 (S) · What is the value of the 5 in 767,053? = 50 (C) · What is the value of the 4 in 24,096? = 4000 (B) · What is the value of the 8 in 355,801? = 800 (L) · What is the value of the 4 in 37,345? = 40 (I) · What is the value of the 7 in 685,708? = 700 (G) · What is the value of the 1 in 321,896? = 1000 (O)
- Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE BUTTON WAS PRESSED BY A RIGHT HAND"10% of 70 = 7 (T) · 10% of 130 = 13 (S) · 10% of 230 = 23 (R) · 40% of 20 = 8 (B) · 60% of 75 = 45 (D) · 20% of 150 = 30 (Y) · 10% of 440 = 44 (H) · 10% of 340 = 34 (N) · 25% of 140 = 35 (W) · 75% of 24 = 18 (O) · 20% of 85 = 17 (A) · 25% of 16 = 4 (I) · 50% of 32 = 16 (U) · 50% of 82 = 41 (E) · 25% of 80 = 20 (G) · 25% of 172 = 43 (P)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "MAGNETIC FIELDS SHUT DOWN THEIR GEAR"2^6 = 64 (M) · 7^3 = 343 (I) · 18^2 = 324 (E) · 3^2 = 9 (O) · 4^2 = 16 (H) · 19^2 = 361 (D) · 2^7 = 128 (F) · 11^2 = 121 (T) · 12^2 = 144 (S) · 17^2 = 289 (C) · 5^2 = 25 (G) · 2^8 = 256 (A) · 20^2 = 400 (N) · 2^2 = 4 (L) · 6^2 = 36 (U) · 6^3 = 216 (R) · 3^3 = 27 (W)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "A BRIGHT BLUE STRAND WAS IN THE CAP"14 + 9 × 4 = 50 (A) · 11 + 6 × 2 = 23 (R) · 6 + 3 × 6 = 24 (G) · 8 + 3 × 7 = 29 (D) · 7 × 10 - 2 = 68 (I) · 20 + 3 × 2 = 26 (H) · 14 + 3 × 9 = 41 (B) · 11 × 5 - 17 = 38 (P) · 12 × 7 - 11 = 73 (N) · 5 × 12 - 2 = 58 (L) · 10 × 7 - 26 = 44 (S) · 28 + 8 × 6 = 76 (W) · 47 + 2 × 5 = 57 (T) · 29 + 6 × 6 = 65 (E) · 32 + 8 × 6 = 80 (C) · 29 + 3 × 6 = 47 (U)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 5) → Buzz Aldrin60 ÷ 10 = 6 · 80 ÷ 8 = 10 · 16 ÷ 2 = 8 · 14 ÷ 2 = 7 · 24 ÷ 12 = 2 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 12 ÷ 3 = 4 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 12 ÷ 12 = 1 · 22 ÷ 2 = 11
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 6 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Percentages, Exponents, Order of operations, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Telescope Trouble on Star Base Alpha — set in Star Base Alpha
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects