Space Mission Simulator - An interactive educational project
- Paper number
IAC-05-E1.1.03
- Author
Mr. Mark Horvath, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary
- Year
2005
- Abstract
I am a founding member of the Gemma - First Hungarian Space Mission Simulator. I take part in building the modules, making the scientific and educational background and I am responsible for the electrical systems. As amateur astronomy lecturer and student in teacherś training, I am making lectures and articles, and manage our web page http://gemma.elte.hu/english/index
Our aims can be summarized in the following points: -to develop an interest in people about space research and sciences, and make them understand the necessity of space research -to spread scientific information, from basic to advanced sciences -to provide a place for young people interested in space research and related sciences to meet, to learn from each other, develop their creative skills and learn team work, so they can be tomorrowś space engineers and researchers
Our activities consist of two main things: space mission simulations and a space sciences and astronomy weekly course.
Simulations: These are role-playing games in which the participants (typically 6 people) play the roles of the staff of a space mission: the mission control personnel, the pilots of a spaceship and astronauts on board a space station doing scientific research. The simulations take up about 2-3 hours, plus preparation in advance. The role-playing is helped by the modules representing a space ship and a space station, and by various devices. In a simulation, the participants can learn about the sciences (eg. dynamics, basic chemical, biological and psychological experiments), about the work of astronauts, mission controllers, engineers; they can use their creativity to solve problems and can improve their skills and learn team work. The educational idea behind is that people can effectively learn and develop while playing a game.
Course: We established a weekly course mainly for secondary school students, with a 2 hours lecture every week. The topics are basic astronomy, motion of planets, dynamics, basic astrophysics, optics, laws of rockets and orbits, satellites and space ships, space probes, etc.
Achievements and details: Our group is supported by the Hungarian Astronautical Society and the Hungarian Space Office. We have won a tender and received two rooms in Urania Public Astronomical Observatory. There we have built two modules: a spaceship module, about 3x3x2 meters in size, and a 4x2x2m space station module. The other room hosts the computers of the mission control. The three workplaces are connected by a local network. This allows communications (using headsets) and lets the mission control see the display of the spaceship and the pictures of the cameras. The spaceship has a 3D navigation software written by us that has real physics. It currently lets the user dock to the space station in orbit. Another program simulates the take-off and landing. In a general simulation, the pilot and commander have to take off, dock with the space station, transfer cargo, then disconnect and land. The space stationś astronauts do scientific research (basic chemical, biological and physical experiments), physical training and space walks to fix unexpected problems. The people in mission control monitor the othersáctivities, help them with advice and give commands. The participants receive the pre-defined programme and check-lists of the mission. These can help them solve expected and unexpected problems, but they will also need to use their creativity.
Future Now our main goal is to do our course and to accept groups for simulations regularly. In the future, we would like to upgrade our equipment, and have a larger place where we could make more interactive models, eg. moon-walking and inertial chair.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-E1.1.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.