Surviving in Space: A Fun Team-Building Activity for Small Groups to Boost Collaboration

Team-building exercises are a fantastic way to strengthen collaboration, spark creative problem-solving, and learn how teams navigate high-pressure situations. 

One of my favourites — inspired by NASA — is the “Space Survival” exercise, a scenario-based challenge that tests teamwork, communication, and decision-making.

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The Scenario

Imagine your team is part of a space crew that has crash-landed on the Moon. The spacecraft is damaged, and you must travel 200 miles to a safe rendezvous point. Luckily, a few items survived the crash, but there’s a catch: you only have a limited selection of supplies, and every decision could affect your survival.

Your mission? Prioritise a list of items in order of importance for survival. Standard items include oxygen tanks, nylon rope, parachute silk, a solar-powered radio, a first-aid kit, and a stellar map — each with unique advantages.

How to Run the Exercise

1. Individual Ranking

• Give each participant the complete list of items and ask them to rank them individually.

• Encourage them to think about survival priorities logically, but personal intuition can play a role as well.

2. Team Discussion

• Bring the team together to debate their individual rankings and agree on a group list.

• The discussion will naturally reveal differences in risk tolerance, problem-solving styles, and leadership tendencies.

3. Compare with Expert Recommendations

• NASA has an “expert” ranking for the same scenario. Compare the team’s choices to see where consensus matched or diverged from expert reasoning.

4. Debrief and Reflect

• Discuss the decision-making process:

• How did the team handle disagreement?

• Who influenced the discussion, and how?

• Did the team prioritise survival logically or emotionally?

• What lessons can be applied to workplace decision-making, negotiation, and collaboration?

Why It Works

This exercise is simple, but it’s packed with learning opportunities:

• Team Decision-Making: Highlights how individual perspectives converge (or clash) in group settings.

• Trade-Offs and Prioritisation: Demonstrates how teams make tough choices with limited resources.

• Conflict Resolution and Negotiation: Provides a safe space to practice persuasion and compromise.

• Leadership and Influence: Reveals who takes initiative, who supports, and how leadership emerges organically.

• Cross-Functional Communication: Emphasises the importance of listening, explaining reasoning, and building consensus.

Tips for Maximising Impact

• Time Pressure: Introduce a strict time limit to simulate real-world stress.

• Customise the Scenario: Swap out items or create a localised setting (e.g., desert survival or island scenario) to make it relatable.

• Follow-Up Challenge: Introduce a twist midway — for example, a limited oxygen supply or a damaged communication device — and ask the team to re-prioritise.

• Virtual Adaptation: Use an online spreadsheet or collaborative tool if your team is remote.

Try This Team Building Activity for Small Groups

The “Space Survival” exercise is more than a fun game — it’s a microcosm of workplace collaboration. Teams learn to negotiate, prioritise, and leverage diverse perspectives under pressure, all while building trust and improving communication.

Next time you want your team to bond, problem-solve, and reflect on decision-making, strap on your imaginary space suits and see if your crew has what it takes to survive the Moon.

Moon Survival Team Building: Scoring Template

Instructions for Teams

1. Individual Ranking: Each participant ranks the 15 items from 1 (most important) to 15 (least important) based on what they think is critical for survival.

2. Group Discussion: Teams discuss their rankings and agree on a team ranking.

3. Compare to Expert: Compare your team ranking with NASA’s expert ranking (column provided).

4. Score Your Decisions: Assign points based on how close your team’s ranking is to the expert ranking (optional: 1 point per exact match, higher score = better alignment).

Item	Individual Rank	Team Rank	Expert Rank	Hint: Why Useful / Not Useful
Two 100-lb oxygen tanks			1	Essential: Provides breathable air, vital for survival.
Food concentrate			6	Useful: Provides nourishment, though less urgent than oxygen.
50 ft of nylon rope			9	Useful: Can help in climbing, securing equipment, or tethering.
Parachute silk			5	Useful: Can be used for shelter, insulation, or makeshift stretchers.
Portable heating unit			4	Useful: Keeps crew warm; important in low temperatures.
First aid kit (including needles)			3	Essential: Critical for treating injuries and preventing infection.
Solar-powered radio/transmitter			2	Very Useful: Enables communication and rescue coordination.
Stellar map/map of constellations			10	Moderately Useful: Helps with navigation, less immediate than oxygen.
Inflatable life raft			15	Limited Use: Designed for water survival, less useful on the Moon.
Magnetic compass			14	Limited Use: Does not work on the Moon due to the lack of a magnetic field.
2 litres of water			7	Essential: Dehydration is a major risk; must be rationed carefully.
Signal flares			12	Useful: Good for attracting attention if a rescue team is nearby.
Self-inflating sleeping bag			11	Useful: Helps conserve body heat and rest, but less critical than oxygen.
Maps of the Moon's surface			13	Useful: Helps plan routes, though less immediate than essential survival items.
Portable solar oven			8	Limited use: Can cook food, but less critical than oxygen, water, or medical supplies.

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