NASA Launches NetworKing Video Game

Marking the end of the World Space Week, which lasted between October 4 and 10, NASA has released a new interactive, educational video game. The agency says that the program provides a new perspective on how NASA experts communicate among themselves and with their spacecraft.

The game can also be used as a simulation tool, for users who want to set up a variety of networks meant to support ongoing space missions. A bit of the complex systems NASA uses in real-life for space communications became apparent when the shuttles were retired.

As numerous antennas began to shut down, the general public caught a glimpse of the complex interplay of systems that was used to receive and upload telemetry to the spacecraft, as they were heading to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and the ISS.

NetworKing accurately depicts the way in which the American space agency's Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) network operates in real life. Most missions currently scattered throughout the solar system use this capability to stay in touch with NASA.

The NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) Information Technology Office (ITO) was responsible for creating the game. One of its main feature is gaining access to increasingly-complex systems as the game progresses.

For example, players start by providing support for satellites and space probes, but can move up in the world over time, reaching a point where they are called upon to take care of communication logistics for the International Space Station (ISS), the planet-hunting Kepler Telescope or the Hubble.

“For any young person who ever dreamed of one day contributing to space missions, NetworKing lets players develop a kingdom of multiple space communication networks working together to support space missions,” says Barbara Adde.

The NASA official holds an appointment as the policy and strategic communications director for SCaN at the NASA Headquarters, in Washington, DC.

“As a simple and fun introduction to the complex world of space communications, NetworKing gives players the opportunity to enjoy a challenging game while absorbing the basic concepts of space communication,” Daniel Laughlin adds.

“It's an engaging way to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics areas of study and open minds to potential careers in those fields,” adds the scientist, who is a games researcher at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), in Greenbelt, Maryland.

The game can be downloaded from this link (for both PC and Mac).