Space Guides

https://github.com/dstefl/uncoveringJWST/

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1pJyqWh-ph2D1tYYBU7CY5skRBheLzHS_sjIsqvRTndo/edit?usp=sharing

The game can be played at https://voyager2.itch.io/learning-through-the-looking-glass (optimized for full screen, please click the Run button and then full screen)

The players will get the role of the mission controller who needs to complete tasks with the James Webb Space Telescope. They will be responsible for monitoring and controlling the instruments and the individual subsystems of the spacecraft:

• Electrical Power Subsystem 
• Attitude Control Subsystem 
• Communication Subsystem 
• Command and Data Handling (C & DH) System 
• Propulsion System & Propellant

Based on the difficulty and performance of the players, a guide will be offered to assist with the operation, allowing everyone to enjoy and learn from the experience. The control is divided into three sections: the mission, which specifies the game duties; the Console, which controls the spacecraft; and Webbopedia, which educates the player. As a reward, the player will be able to make the same types of observations as the JWST.

This can encourage children to explore STEM subjects and adults to learn about investments in the space business and exploration.

The current status is:

• The app is a minimum viable product designed to demonstrate the concept's potential.
• The first version has many simplifications and does not represent the universe nor the spacecraft and its control precisely.

Planned improvements:

• Implement Mission Control more representative that better represents the JWST mission (support from NASA or reference to a publicly available MCS specification would help us).
• Create a more representative universe.
• Add station keeping in L2.
• Automatically load images published by NASA into the game environment.
• Create a series of guided missions from the launch until the latest published observation.
• Implement a guide to help the players through the missions according to their skills.
• Release the game for common platforms (Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS) and virtual reality.
• Add more educative resources to the Webopeddia inside the game.
• Consider adding on-board control procedures implementation to teach algorithms and coding.
• Add the DART impact.

1) Imagery from JWST (credit NASA)

2) 3D model of JWST (credit NASA)

3)https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb/Selection_of_the_first_James_Webb_Space_Telescope_General_Observer_Scientific_Programmes

First, thank you for organizing the event and offering the challenges. We participated in Prague, with great support from Jan Spratek from Planetarium Praha and the Keboola team: Sanya Kumari, Vojta Tuma, and Kritiga Ravishankar.

Our team consisted of a space engineer and a data analyst. We feel that with the growing complexity, the immense value of the space industry and the benefits it brings to everyone on Earth are understood less and less. One way to change it could be an educative game. So we decided to implement one! And yes, we enjoyed doing so. After two days of creating it, the game has limitations and is hard to play. We intend to continue improving the application to better represent the universe around us and the reality of space missions.

It would be great if we could later release the game with the support of the NASA Apps Challenge to a larger audience that could play it on all common platforms, including their phones and VR sets.

1) Artwork from the https://www.coursera.org/learn/game-design-and-development-1 course by Michigan State University

#jwst #education #game #3d #missioncontrol #universe