Mission Control Game

 Mission Control is a multi user, classroom networked, game based, educational solution that recreates the experience of being a Mission Control Operator in the NASA ISS Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center, Houston. Students are challenged with the tasks of designing, constructing, crewing and managing the International Space Station, along with conducting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) experiments in microgravity. Mission Control utilizes a sophisticated simulation, astronaut artificial intelligence and gametheory to present a wide range of problems and solutions, while exposing students to the challenges of maintaining human life in space in an immersive, situation relevant learning environment (SRLE). The SRLE is especially important to STEM as successful experiments earn flags that are used to purchase modules and components, launch astronauts, supply the ship, create satisfaction among the exploration partners and eventually win the game.

 While a fully interactive simulation of the ISS (complete with cut-away views to see its interior and crew) plays on the main screen in the front of the classroom, each student has their own unique display at their computer. These interactive displays recreate many of the same duties as real flight operators, in addition to science officers in charge of selecting, studying and conducting experiments aboard the ISS. Each student is responsible for their area of expertise: managing life support and repairs, launching vehicles, supplies, managing astronaut activities and setting up experiments. Mission Control is a platform for learning cooperation, leadership, teamwork, responsibility and most of all, the relevance of math and science in every student’s world. Students learn that they can understand the complex needs of maintaining life in space and are enthusiastic about pursuing those endeavors further.

 NASA needs to help create students who are enthusiastic about space relevant activities like math and science if America is to maintain its leadership in space exploration. Mission Control uses SRLE techniques to engross students and immerse them in a believable simulated environment, making their learning activities important to them and the rest of their team. By successfully completing theirexperiments, students earn flags that the team can use build a bigger and more impressive ISS.

Mission Control is FUN!

Mission Control could be educational and still not be successful because students would not find it compelling. Because it is based on a gaming environment, Mission Control encourages and rewards students for participating and becoming invested in its outcome. Mission Control is a natural platform for competitions between classrooms and schools, along with a performance-based tool for analyzing student competency in STEM.

 Imaginova and Starry Night
The initial curriculum is a middle/high school based core astronomy course developed in collaboration with Imaginova (Space.com, Orion Telescopes, Starry Night software, LiveScience.com, SpaceNews.com and Space News) and derived from their award winning Middle and High school Starry Night astronomy software. In Mission Control, students learn astronomy concepts and are able to study and complete experiments involving constellations, planets, Moon phases and Earth seasons. Eventually we envision partnering with other curriculum developers to present, in an interactive visual environment, courses in space relevant math, biomedical and materials handling subjects.

In the experiment to the right, the student is given the time of day and the position of the Big Dipper relative to Polaris and is tasked with determining the corresponding month.
Mission Control is just at the beginning of a genre. Utilizing game techniques to involve and immerse students in a virtual space environment and suspend their disbelief while teaching them math, science, engineering, and technology presents the natural direction for taking gaming to the highest level it can ultimately achieve.