High-Level Project Summary
StellarLight is a game that aims to educate players of all ages with the technological capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope. The game simulates the R&D processes that went into creating the JWST using key events in the telescopes timeline. The game immerses the player into all aspects of the creation of the JWST. This is to show the capabilities and processes that the development teams went through in this journey. The player learns new skills as well as key engineering challenges the teams faced.
Link to Final Project
Link to Project "Demo"
Detailed Project Description
StellarLight
Summary:
The goal of the game is to develop an educational system for players of all ages, that is not only efficient but also a fun experience. The player is taken on a journey through different phases in the James Webb Space Telescope timeline. The game starts in the R&D phase and follows through to launch and calibration of the telescope's mirrors to achieve a clear image.
*All data is based on online resources displaying the specifications and history of the development of the telescope.
Gameplay:
A player starts as a founder of a SpaceTech organization. The player receives funding over time, these funds are used to hire staff and resources to develop the James Webb Space Telescope. As research progresses the player is exposed to more information and resources. In order to unlock resources the player is posed with research challenges that are based on real-life cases the R&D teams faced. The player goes through different stages from R&D to Launch. The game takes place on a research campus consisting of different R&D sites, which include a comms center (Communication with the telescope and its development), a satellite hangar (Building the telescope and implementing research), R&D center (Scientific research), and headquarters (Funding). Each of these sites is in charge of different sectors that go into the R&D. These sites contain the education challenges the player must complete. As the challenges are completed the progress bar for that site increases, which in turn unlocks new challenges. The player must complete these educational challenges and utilize the right resources in order to assure a successful launch. The game is completed after the final stage of calibration in correct orbital position is successful and a clear calibration is achieved.
Technology:
The following is a list of the technologies the went into game development:
- Cross-platform web technologies: PC, Mobile, XR capable devices (AR & VR)
- Three.js
- Vue.js
- Azure
- NASA based 3D models
Roadmap:
Adapting existing levels to cater to multiple age groups
Creating more levels and depth to the game, this includes new challenges and ongoing challenges faced today while in orbit.
Creating an interface to be used not only for solo use but to be used as an educational in-classroom environment for multiple levels.
Space Agency Data
Educational content is based on content provided by NASA.
Hackathon Journey
It was truly a pleasure to take part in such a great opportunity to contribute to the future of the space industry. The chance to potentially impact a future generation of space exploration. In the process a lot of research went into the different events surrounding the James Webb Space Telescope, this includes many different ways the telescope came to be the worlds most advanced telescope.
As a team from a younger generation our childhoods were influenced by video games. In our search for a challenge, we kept on coming back to the Through The Looking Glass challenge as we felt a personal connection with the challenge.
In order to best achieve our vision, we did our research on everything JWST related from the conception of the idea to the launch. We realized there were a lot of challenges the development team faced and were inspired to plan out the game even more.
References
Cross-platform web technologies: PC, Mobile, XR capable devices (AR & VR)
Three.js
Vue.js
Azure
NASA based 3D models
Original logo and theme music
Tags
#space #jwst #games #3d #education