Planet Patrol at ESA ESTEC

Planets of the Solar System Adventure Pack

Inside the test chambers at ESA ESTEC, planetary data is scrambling.

Orbit paths are miscalculated. Gravity readings are fluctuating. The order of the inner and outer planets is shifting in the system model. Ari Raider has detected a disruption in the solar system simulation, and if the planetary data is not restored, the structure of our cosmic neighborhood could fall out of alignment.

In Planet Patrol at ESA ESTEC, students deploy the Test Chamber Cruiser and enter a high-stakes space science mission. By exploring how planets differ in size and composition, how gravity shapes orbits, and how moons and rings interact with larger worlds, explorers must recalibrate the system and restore balance to the solar map.

This adventure blends astronomy, physics, and planetary science with story-driven exploration.

About This Adventure Pack

Planet Patrol at ESA ESTEC is designed for elementary explorers and connects directly to an interactive online adventure.

Students can complete the Planet Patrol at ESA ESTEC adventure online for free, including access to free printable trading cards that match this experience. The online adventure delivers the full learning and story-driven mission without requiring a physical kit.

👉 Explore the free Planet Patrol at ESA ESTEC adventure here:
Coming Soon

For families or classrooms that want to extend the experience, this Adventure Pack adds collectible cards and hands-on components that bring the planetary mission into the physical world.

The learning experience is the same whether students use the physical pack or not. The pack simply adds a tactile, collectible layer to the adventure.

What This Adventure Covers

Each Planet Patrol at ESA ESTEC Adventure Pack explores core solar system concepts, including:

• Planet – A large object that orbits a star and has cleared its path of debris
• Inner Planets – The rocky planets closest to the Sun
• Outer Planets – The larger planets located farther from the Sun
• Rocky – Made mostly of solid rock and metal
• Gas Giant – A very large planet made mostly of gases like hydrogen and helium
• Rings – Bands of ice and rock that orbit some planets
• Moons – Natural satellites that orbit planets
• Orbit – The curved path an object follows around another object
• Gravity – The force that pulls objects toward each other

Each topic appears naturally within the adventure and is required to move the story forward, reinforcing understanding through modeling and exploration rather than memorization.

What’s Inside the Pack

• Adventure-Filled Field Pack (6×9 Adventure Pouch)
• Adventure Mission Card
• Interactive Online Adventure
• Knowledge Card Pack
• Mystery Dig Kit
• Dig Stick Tool
• Cleaning Wipe
• Mystery Collectible Specimen (Gemlet)
• Gemlet Storage Container
• Excavating Adventures Sticker

Why Kids Love It

Piloting through planetary simulations, comparing gas giants and rocky worlds, solving gravity challenges, and uncovering a real mystery specimen makes space science feel epic and immersive.

Why Teachers and Parents Love It

Planet Patrol at ESA ESTEC supports elementary Earth and space science standards through clear explanations of planetary structure, gravity, and orbital motion. The adventure encourages comparison skills, scientific reasoning, and curiosity about our place in the solar system.

The adventure works for whole-class instruction, small groups, or independent learning — with or without the physical pack.

Free Adventure Option

Planet Patrol at ESA ESTEC is also available online for free, including free printable trading cards that align directly with this adventure. No purchase is required to participate.

This reflects our mission at Excavating Adventures: to make engaging, story-driven adventures accessible to everyone.

👉 Explore the free Planet Patrol at ESA ESTEC adventure here:
Coming Soon