ORBIT RESCUE · The Comet CrewChoose A4 or Letter · single-sided · fit to page
ORBIT / RESCUEHOST ONLY · SETUP & ROUTE
The Comet Crew
MISSION CONTROL
Host setup and route.
The Comet Crew · Explorer · balanced
Designed for ages 7–10, 2–6 players, about 30–45 minutes. Timing and enjoyment have not been confirmed by human playtesting.
Prepare the mission
Print the 8-page player pack and this 3-page host pack, single-sided, at normal scale or “fit to page”. Do not print the browser preview itself.
Gather six envelopes, a pencil and the player sheets. No cutting, padlocks or purchased props are needed.
Label the envelopes A–F if using the default locations. Put each sheet into the location shown below. Custom locations should be distinct and easy to identify.
Choose only accessible locations inside your agreed play area. Avoid heat, water, appliances, medicine, exits and places that require climbing. Keep an adult available.
Give the crew the Flight Board and Mission 1. Keep all host pages out of sight. Start whenever everyone is ready.
Envelope setup — check every row
Put this inside
Beacon
Location
Mission 2
4
Envelope D on the table
Mission 3
2
Envelope B on the table
Mission 4
1
Envelope A on the table
Mission 5
3
Envelope C on the table
Mission 6
6
Envelope F on the table
Rescue certificate
5
Envelope E on the table
First game? Keep all six envelopes on one table, spaced apart. Hiding is optional. Mission 1 begins in the players’ hands.
ORBIT / RESCUEHOST ONLY · SOLUTIONS 1–3
The Comet Crew
Keep the mission moving.
Use hints only when requested. Start with Hint 1; offer Hint 2 if the crew is still stuck. Allow scrap paper and extra time. The mission can be collaborative at every level.
1. Fuel for the flight Beacon 4 · Letter P
8 + 3 − 7 = 4.
Hint 1: Keep track of the cells in the order shown.
Hint 2: Add the collected cells first, then subtract the used cells.
Next envelope: Envelope D on the table
2. Across the star field Beacon 2 · Letter L
From the bottom-left star, the route ends at row 2, column 2, counted from the top left. That square contains 2.
Hint 1: Up means toward the top of the page. The page does not turn.
Hint 2: Trace one arrow at a time with a finger. Do not count the starting square as a move.
Next envelope: Envelope B on the table
3. A message from the moon Beacon 1 · Letter A
20 · 18 · 19 decodes to ONE, so choose beacon 1.
Hint 1: Each token always means the same letter. Spaces separate the tokens.
Hint 2: Write one letter under each token, then read the word aloud.
Next envelope: Envelope A on the table
ORBIT / RESCUEHOST ONLY · SOLUTIONS 4–6
The Comet Crew
One last transmission.
4. Find the supply planet Beacon 3 · Letter N
Only beacon 3 has 2 moons and rings.
Hint 1: Use both clues together. Cross out planets that fail either clue.
Hint 2: First look for 2 moons, then check the rings.
Next envelope: Envelope C on the table
5. Tune the rescue radio Beacon 6 · Letter E
The third-smallest count is 6. That count belongs to beacon 6.
Hint 1: Use the pulse count to compare rows. The beacon number is just its label.
Hint 2: The counts in order are 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12.
Next envelope: Envelope F on the table
6. The return signal Beacon 5 · Letter T
The reversed signal is square, circle, triangle, circle. Only beacon 5 matches it.
Hint 1: The order matters. Check every position, not just the set of shapes.
Hint 2: The rightmost shape becomes first. The leftmost shape becomes last.
Next envelope: Envelope E on the table
FINAL RESCUE COMMANDPLANET
Check the six letters in order. If they differ, help the crew revisit the matching mission; never make a wrong answer a dead end.
Reuse & share
You may use and print this kit for your own household, classroom or private event. Do not resell the generator or generated kits. Puzzle logic has automated checks. Human playtesting has not yet been documented.
ORBIT / RESCUEFLIGHT BOARD · KEEP WITH THE CREW
The Comet Crew
YOUR MISSION STARTS HERE
Bring the crew back to Earth.
A moon crew is stranded. Solve six puzzles, follow the beacons, and collect six letters to send the rescue command.
How to play
Start with Mission 1. Solve it together.
Your answer is a beacon number from 1 to 6. Copy the letter under that number into your flight log.
Use the location board below to find the next envelope. Open only that envelope.
Repeat. After Mission 6, visit the last envelope and tell Mission Control your six-letter command.
Your beacon locations
1
Envelope A on the table
2
Envelope B on the table
3
Envelope C on the table
4
Envelope D on the table
5
Envelope E on the table
6
Envelope F on the table
Flight log
123456
Take turns reading, tracing and writing. Ask Mission Control for a hint whenever you need one. Walk; stay in the agreed play area.
ORBIT / RESCUEMISSION 1 OF 6
The Comet Crew
01
Fuel for the flight
Our rescue ship needs an exact fuel reading before it can leave the dock.
Start with 8 fuel cells. Collect 3 more. Use 7 cells. How many cells remain?
8START+3COLLECT−7USE=?BEACON
Space for your calculations
Send your answer
My beacon number is . Circle that number below and copy its letter into flight-log box 1.
1K2D3N4P5D6B
Find that beacon on your Flight Board. Go to its location and open the next envelope.
ORBIT / RESCUEMISSION 2 OF 6
The Comet Crew
02
Across the star field
The navigation computer has gone quiet. Follow its last set of instructions.
Start at ★. Move one square for each arrow. Read the beacon number in your final square.
2
3
4
5
2
2
4
1
2
4
5
6
★
6
5
3
↑ TOP OF PAGE
→ right
↑ up
→ right
↑ up
← left
Send your answer
My beacon number is . Circle that number below and copy its letter into flight-log box 2.
1T2L3S4G5O6M
Find that beacon on your Flight Board. Go to its location and open the next envelope.
ORBIT / RESCUEMISSION 3 OF 6
The Comet Crew
03
A message from the moon
A friendly moon station has sent its beacon number in a number-code.
Replace each code token with its letter. Read the number word you discover.
20___18___19___
11 = I20 = O13 = S18 = N12 = U19 = E
Send your answer
My beacon number is . Circle that number below and copy its letter into flight-log box 3.
1A2M3E4C5M6J
Find that beacon on your Flight Board. Go to its location and open the next envelope.
ORBIT / RESCUEMISSION 4 OF 6
The Comet Crew
04
Find the supply planet
Only one planet matches both clues. Its rescue beacon will lead us onward.
Find the planet that matches BOTH clues. Use its beacon number.
CLUE 1 It has exactly 2 moons.
CLUE 2 It has rings.
Beacon
Rings?
Moons
1
No
2 ● ●
2
No
3 ● ● ●
3
Yes
2 ● ●
4
Yes
3 ● ● ●
5
Yes
1 ●
6
No
1 ●
Send your answer
My beacon number is . Circle that number below and copy its letter into flight-log box 4.
1U2Q3N4O5G6Q
Find that beacon on your Flight Board. Go to its location and open the next envelope.
ORBIT / RESCUEMISSION 5 OF 6
The Comet Crew
05
Tune the rescue radio
Six beacons are sending pulse counts. Find the right signal to reach the crew.
Put the pulse counts in order from smallest to largest. Choose the beacon with the THIRD count.
Beacon
Pulse count
1
4● ● ● ●
2
2● ●
3
10
4
12
5
8
6
6● ● ● ● ● ●
Send your answer
My beacon number is . Circle that number below and copy its letter into flight-log box 5.
1F2Y3O4U5K6E
Find that beacon on your Flight Board. Go to its location and open the next envelope.
ORBIT / RESCUEMISSION 6 OF 6
The Comet Crew
06
The return signal
The stranded crew has one last signal for us. Match it to open their rescue route.
Read the signal from RIGHT TO LEFT. Find the beacon with that reversed order.
CREW SIGNAL
Beacon
Signal
1
2
3
4
5
6
Send your answer
My beacon number is . Circle that number below and copy its letter into flight-log box 6.
1A2P3B4D5T6J
Find that beacon on your Flight Board. Go to its location and open the next envelope.
ORBIT / RESCUEFINAL ENVELOPE · RESCUE CHECK
The Comet Crew
★
TRANSMISSION RECEIVED
Ready for rescue?
Read the six letters in your flight log, from box 1 to box 6. Tell Mission Control your command.
Once Mission Control confirms your command:
The Comet Crew
You brought the moon crew home. Your teamwork saved the mission.