NASA Launches Interactive Simulation of Satellite Communications
MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. -- NASA today unveiled an interactive computer
simulation that allows virtual explorers of all ages to dock the
space shuttle at the International Space Station, experience a
virtual trip to Mars or a lunar impact, and explore images of star
formations taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.
In an effort to excite young people about space and NASA's missions,
the agency has launched the online Space Communication and Navigation
(SCaN) simulation, designed to entertain and educate. The interactive
simulation offers a virtual 3-D experience to visualize how data
travels along various space communications paths.
"The elaborate space communications networks that connect scientists
and engineers with NASA's spacecraft is essential to all of NASA's
missions and can be a challenging concept to comprehend," said
Barbara Adde, a policy and strategic communications manager for the
Office of Space Communications and Navigation at NASA Headquarters in
Washington. "This simulation helps explain this complex
infrastructure in an engaging way by using an interactive 3-D game."
The interactive Space Communication and Navigation simulation allows
visitors to select spacecraft and experience a "flythrough," or a
tutorial with images and descriptions of NASA's three space
communication networks. For example, the Near Earth Network
flythrough shows how data originates at an antenna at McMurdo
Station, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. The data is then sent to NASA's
Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat, as it passes
overhead.
The Space Network flythrough also shows how data is relayed from
NASA's White Sands Test Facility, N.M., to the space station via the
Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System, a network of communication
satellites and ground stations NASA uses for space communications.
Finally, in the Deep Space Network demonstration, visitors learn how
NASA communicates with the Mars Exploration Rovers, Sprit and
Opportunity, by using the Madrid Deep Space Network antenna to send
data to the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which then relays the data
to the rover.
"Making this interactive simulation available to young people is
important and may lead them to consider a career in engineering,
science or information technology as it relates to space," said Chris
C. Kemp, chief information officer at NASA's Ames Research Center at
Moffett Field, Calif. "NASA is embracing the fact that programs like
this help convey NASA's message to people who respond well to virtual
and online learning environments."
The space communication network simulation features nine spacecraft to
choose from, including the Hubble Space Telescope, the space station,
the space shuttle orbiter, the Spirit and Opportunity rovers,
Cassini, the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS),
ICESat and Aura. Once a spacecraft is contacted, visitors can request
actions such as "choose an imaging target" and "take pictures" of the
Crab Nebula as seen from Hubble, or view videos of the space shuttle
docking at the station.
In addition to the Space Communication and Navigation simulation, NASA
provides interactive applications and other online educational tools
on its Web site.
To explore the Space Communication and Navigation network simulation,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/
For more information about the Space Communications and Navigation
network, visit:
http://www.spacecomm.nasa.gov
For more information about NASA's educational resources, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/education
Source: NASA
