New NASA Game Lets Players Build and Launch a Virtual Rocket

June 27, 2012

Joshua Buck
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
jbuck@nasa.gov

George Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 12-219

NEW NASA GAME LETS PLAYERS BUILD AND LAUNCH A VIRTUAL ROCKET

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- With NASA's Rocket Science 101, a new game
designed for computers and iPad users, you don't have to be a rocket
scientist to launch a spacecraft.

NASA's Launch Services Program (LSP), based at the agency's Kennedy
Space Center in Florida, provides access to space for the studies of
Earth and exploration of our solar system and the universe. Now, LSP
is turning over the virtual selection, construction and launch of a
mission to players who will decide the best rocket to assemble to
launch a spacecraft. Rocket scientists in LSP do the same thing for
real rockets and missions every day.

Players select their favorite NASA mission and choose from three skill
levels for building a rocket to send the spacecraft into orbit. The
Rocket Science 101 challenge provides players an opportunity to learn
about NASA missions and the various components of the launch
vehicles, including how rockets are configured and how they work
together to successfully launch a spacecraft.

LSP managers, engineers and other specialists match spacecraft with
the right rocket to carry out real-life missions, a process often
done years ahead of a launch. As liftoff nears, teams oversee the
launch vehicle's engineering and manufacturing, including its
integration with the spacecraft. LSP conducts the countdowns for
NASA's scientific missions and provides additional quality assurance
along with other controls to ensure a successful mission.

The application was developed by the Kennedy Information Technology
Mobile Team in conjunction with LSP. Rocket Science 101 is available
for iPad users via iTunes at:

http://bit.ly/Mn1xLr

Rocket Science 101 is available online at:

http://go.nasa.gov/Mn28Nt

To learn more about LSP, rockets and NASA missions visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/yg4U1J


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