November Mission Model Discussion: M01 - SPACE TRAVEL

Welcome to the November Mission Model Discussion! From now until just before Thanksgiving this space will feature ONE part of the FIRST LEGO League INTO ORBIT game challenge per day. The Robot Game is only 1/4th of the overall FIRST LEGO League challenge for teams this year!
This post is meant to be an aid, not a replacement for carefully reading the Challenge Guide and Updates!

Today we will explore M01 - SPACE TRAVEL!

At the Beginning of the Match

The ramp is dual locked along the North wall at with the orange platform at the Northwest corner of the table. The vehicle payload starts in the orange section of the ramp facing East (as though it were going to drive down the ramp). The Supply Payload and Crew Payload begin in Base and can be moved to a tray or loaded onto the robot by the team. 

Required for Scoring

Start one or more payloads rolling down the Space Travel Ramp. 

Conditions

Each payload must roll independently past the First Track Connection - without the help of a robot. 

Points

No Successful Payloads = 0

Crew Payload Only = 10

Supply Payload Only = 14

Vehicle Payload Only = 22

Supply Payload and Crew Payload = 24

Vehicle Payload and Crew Payload = 32

Vehicle Payload and Supply Payload = 36

All three payloads = 46

Note from Oregon Head Referee Tom

Payloads do not have to roll all the way to the end of the ramp to score - only as far as the first track connection (see the image in the mission rule). This mission includes the definition of “Independent” which is used in several other missions.

Real World Impact

It takes a lot of preparation to get people into space, especially for a longterm mission. Not only must all human needs be provided for, physical, mental, and spiritual, but the machinery must also be provided for. Adding in a stop outside of Earth creates even greater needs as the ship will need to be launched again to return. On top of the physical items, years of planning, calculations, and training must happen before even a single person can leave on a longterm mission. I hope your team's project can help simplify some of this preparation or at least make sure we will have everything we need!

Discussion

This mission is relatively close to base. That makes it something that doesn't require a lot of precision navigation to reach. The carts have our new loop style this year and should work well in a variety of attachments.  The most challenging aspect is getting the placement onto the ramp correct so that your payload slides past the First Track Connection of the ramp.  Does your team have a trick to make this mission easier for new teams?