LEVEL 1 · TROPOSPHERE · FOLLOW
Create the agency identity and tell the story of the first mission
Create the logo and flag, interview teams, record the launch and publish the first mission report.
Mission Communications
Create the agency's identity, tell the truth about its missions, build excitement and turn evidence into stories that attract future support.
Role in the agency
Mission Communications own the public story and the agency archive. They help everyone understand why the work matters, keep the mission emotionally alive, and ultimately turn five levels of evidence into a pitch for the agency's future.
One agency journey
All five teams work towards the same agency mission at each atmospheric level. The challenge changes from following a supplied method to creating missions from real requirements.
Level 1 · TroposphereFOLLOW
FIRST LAUNCH
Prepare and conduct the agency's first safe, measured water-rocket launch.
Level 2 · StratosphereCONTRIBUTE
IMPROVE THE LAUNCH
Build on the first launch and demonstrate evidence-based improvements.
Level 3 · MesosphereINVESTIGATE
TEST PILOT
Build and fly a more complex test vehicle and investigate performance, recovery and capability gaps.
Level 4 · ThermosphereCOORDINATE
WEATHER MISSION
Plan, resource and conduct a real environmental mission using interacting systems.
Level 5 · ExosphereCREATE
MISSION ON DEMAND
Translate an external requirement into a safe, reliable and repeatable mission with minimal teacher direction.
Mission Communications — from Follow to Create
The team mission changes at each level, but always contributes to the same shared agency objective.
LEVEL 2 · STRATOSPHERE · CONTRIBUTE
Make the improvement story engaging
Use story and motivation principles to create a short, accurate video about what the agency improved.
LEVEL 3 · MESOSPHERE · INVESTIGATE
Tell the same mission in different media
Compare blog, short-form updates and video while preserving factual accuracy.
LEVEL 4 · THERMOSPHERE · COORDINATE
Produce an agency news and weather report
Apply editorial judgement to real agency/school stories and report the mission weather data.
LEVEL 5 · EXOSPHERE · CREATE
Pitch the agency and fund its future
Turn five levels of evidence into a persuasive case for investment, support or partnership.
Why the progression matters
Students earn capabilities. Teams earn independence. Early missions are deliberately scaffolded. As the team proves that it can plan, investigate, coordinate and make sound decisions, the scaffolding falls away.
At Exosphere the goal is not a harder worksheet. It is a team capable of taking a genuine mission requirement and working out what to do.