Competitionは、organizerに提出されたproposalを評価。上位6チームが、ジョンソン宇宙センター(JSC)での決勝でpresentationを行い、championを選ぶ。
　今回のchallengeでは、アメリカチーム(代表：松原美樹)と日本チーム(代表：山本浩司)とで、on-line discussionを繰り返した。基本となるproposalは日本チームが作成(日本語)。この原案を元に、アメリカチームがorganizerに提出するproposalを完成させた。
 

Sim Mars

San Jose State University and
NASDA Summer School 2001
Joint team

Team Leader:Miki Matsubara,
M.S. candidate, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, San Jose State University

Supervising Faculty:Nikos J. Mourtos,
Ph.D.Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, San Jose State University

Members:

Name	Affiliation	Role
Chikako Hirose	Senior, Physics Dpt., Ochanomizu Univ.
Takashi Ito	Ph.D. candidate, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Univ. of Tokyo	Concept-making
Akihiko Itou	Space Engineering Development Co., Ltd	Concept-making
Takashi Kawauchi	M.S. candidate, Dept. of Physics, Hokkaido Univ.	External relations,concept-making, secretary
Tomoko Matsuda	Senior, Dept. of Physics, Ochanomizu Univ.
Yusuke Mitani	Senior, Ritsumeikan-Uji High School	Concept-making
Masakuni Ohshiro	Physics Dept., Kyushu Univ.	Concept-making
Robbie Singh	M.S. candidate, Mech. & Aerospace Engineering Dept., San Jose State Univ.	Hardware, proposal
Ryo Sode	Filemaker	Webmaster, proposal
Satomi Takada	M.S. student, Dept. of Physics, Hokkaido Univ.	Concept-making
Satoshi Unagami	Sophomore, Dept. of Environmental Information, Keio Univ., SFC	Concept-making, research
Shigeru Yamazaki	Accenture, Ltd.	Consultant, Concept-making
Koji Yamamoto	Freshman, Dept. of Economics, Keio Univ.	Japan team leader
Nobuhiro Yokomori	Junior, Dept. of Applied Physics, Science Univ. of Tokyo

Abstract

To enhance the public understanding of NASA's work and presenting the importance of NASA's 20-years Mars Exploration Programs to everyday life, San Jose State University and NASDA (National Space Development Agency of Japan) Summer School 2001 joint team proposes videogame software temporarily called SimMars as an effective outreach strategy. Due to its nature as commonly accepted entertainment, employing simulation videogames can serve as a medium that allows NASA to present mission objectives and results articulately in everyday language.

A player is assigned to participate in Mars Exploration Programs as a director. By collaborating with other teammates of various backgrounds in a simulation, he/she can simulate the working environment of NASA virtually. For standard and educational edition, it is a player's task to lead a featuring mission and plan for the next. Online edition will be developed, expanding its simulation objective to construct the Martian colony.

SimMars is designed based on actual Mars Exploration Programs. Additional versions will be released corresponding to future missions. Thus a player is provided with basic knowledge of upcoming (or ongoing) mission. Past mission outcome will be reflected in the following missions, so the player can be assured of its significant achievement, and be able to apply to their simulation.

Our main audiences are children who will play an important role in future space exploration programs. Educational edition will be available and encouraged to be used in the classroom. This software carries educational purpose as well as the entertainment value, thus it is perfect educational tool for children.

Introduction

NASA and its space exploration programs have a history of development due to the Cold War of the 1960's. This background often gives the public a mysterious impression and results in misconceptions. After the Cold War, NASA has been making some efforts on opening their work and data to the public. However, it is too scientific and technical and keeps people away. As a result, people cannot make a connection between their everyday life and NASA's work.

Conventional outreach plans such as open house of NASA facilities, online database, and space camps are effective only for those who have some interest in space exploration programs. The challenge is to attract the population with the least interest in space programs. Needless to say, innovative and easily approachable but still effective outreach program is in imminent need. Thus San Jose State and NASDA Summer School 2001 joint team is proposing to use a videogame (temporarily called "SimMars") as a medium to accomplish an enjoyable outreach plan. Games are meant to be enjoyed. And in one form or another, everybody plays games, especially very frequently in youth. People may pick up videogames regardless of their interest in space exploration. Taking advantage of games as entertainment, it is possible for one to become interested in space program after playing this game.

Objectives

Our team objective is to promote recognition of NASA's activities. In order to accomplish this objective, we propose a videogame, temporarily named SimMars. This videogame is a simulation of NASA's Mars exploration program. It is our goal to deliver the outcomes of a series of Mars exploration missions. A player is expected to have better understanding on NASA's work, and his/her curiosity on space exploration program is to be stimulated through playing SimMars.

Perspectives

We would like to make the simulation in SimMars as close to reality as possible. No dream-like science fictions. NASA itself is exciting enough as a science fiction. As the simulation is realistic and related to everyday life, it is easier for people to approach, resulting in increasing interest in public. People working at NASA are not all elites - they are normal human beings, with lots of drama in their life - like those working in ordinary companies. NASA consists of many scientist and engineers, but also business experts, lawyers, doctors, and even artists. They all do their work with pride and at their best. Still, sometimes they make mistakes. But there is much to learn from failure as well as from success. That is life we all know - no mysteries.

We especially value children, since they will be leading the society and space exploration programs in the future. It is our ultimate goal to stimulate their interest in science, and motivate them to learn. Childhood is a very important phase in one's life, with full of curiosity and hope. Any experience one has in childhood can have a great impact on his future. Thus it is important to provide children with truthful information and encouragement to explore.

People face the turning point usually in their adolescence, which often makes them relinquish their childhood dreams. Teenagers need encouragement at this time. People all face difficulties, but it is possible to overcome them. Or if one approach does not work, there always will be an alternate way to pursue their dreams. For this reason, the second target for this game is high school student. Student version of SimMars is designed for classroom use.

Strength

One of the strengths of SimMars is emphasis on the international collaboration, which is essential in the present and future society. Working with people of various backgrounds would be in more need. In general, it is not easy to recognize that there exist other people with different values, religions, opinions, specialties, and traditions. By simulating highly internationally collaborative project such as Mars Exploration Programs, a player can realize the importance of accepting these differences, and value the variation of individual thoughts. Confronting various opinions may also stimulate one's perception and sensitivity.

In simulation, a player is involved in a series of missions to Mars, collaborating with several people of various specialties. A player can choose his/her character according to his/her actual occupation, or not. By challenging many imaginary problems in a team in simulation, a player can understand that space exploration programs, including Mars Exploration Programs, are supported by people in various professions.

SimMars can be used as an information source. This game reflects Mars exploration missions planned by NASA for next 20 years. This series of robotic science missions is expected to reveal more of the unknown nature of our neighboring red planet. Data collected in past and future missions can be used as reference in the simulation. In this way, not only significance but also useful applications of each mission can be introduced.

By comparing our planet to Mars, a player can also appreciate the preciousness of life-harboring Earth environment. Future Mars Exploration Programs comprise a search for water, which is essential to life form. Mars has a potential of harboring or having harbored a life. Data from Mars Express, 2003 Mars Exploration Rovers and 2005 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter are useful for investigation of the presence of life on Mars. In addition, they can be valuable reference for future terra-forming. NASA has not announced inclusion of Mars base in their plan yet, but it will be simulated in a later version of SimMars online edition.

A player can make some modifications on spacecraft design, on communication systems and power systems, for instance. Having various choices for spacecraft components, a player can be introduced to new energy resources and technologies, such as solar power satellite for power systems.