Classroom Activity
NASA Space Voyagers: The Game
- Update: October 1, 2021 - A *NEW* expansion pack is now available to download! The Outer Worlds Expansion Pack includes eight cards featuring missions to Jupiter's moon Europa and other destinations in the outer solar system. See the materials list for a link to download the print or digital versions.
- See tips for remote instruction in the Management section.
Overview
In this strategy card game, students work individually or collaboratively to build a spacecraft capable of exploring our solar system. Students must use problem-solving skills as well as their knowledge of and research into STEM and space exploration concepts to win the game. The object is to fully "explore" their destination by accumulating exploration points.
Materials
Management
- Consider playing a practice round to gain familiarity with gameplay.
- Students can play individually or as a team of up to four players. The Procedures section includes instructions for both individual and collaborative play. If possible, students should play collaboratively to reinforce problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.
- For each team, print out:
- One deck of game cards, double-sided (flip along short edge) on 8.5x11 paper or card stock.
- Game mat, single-sided on 8.5x11 paper.
- You can also print out the game instructions for quick reference.
- The cards and mat can be printed on cardstock and laminated to increase durability. To save printer ink, print the materials in black and white and color or have students color the cards according to the key below using markers or colored pencils.
- Spacecraft: Red and Grey
- Instruments: Gold
- Resources: Green or Black
- The game mat can be assembled by taping the sheets of paper together along the dotted lines. The mat includes a place for your deck, your discard pile, and your spacecraft as they come into play.
Tips for Remote Instruction
- Consider placing digital versions of the cards and game mat into online shared slides. Have students draw cards from the shared document and play on a digital game mat. This way, cards can easily be dragged, dropped, and rotated within the shared documents.
Background
NASA’s Artemis program calls for sending the first woman and next man to the surface of the Moon by 2024. It also seeks to establish a permanent and sustainable presence on the Moon. The agency will use what we learn on the Moon to prepare for humanity's next giant leap – sending astronauts to Mars.
On Mars, Perseverance, NASA's most advanced Mars rover to date, is is taking the next steps in our exploration of the Red Planet. Only the fifth NASA rover to land on Mars, Perseverance is building on the work and scientific discoveries of its predecessors by searching for evidence of ancient microbial life on the Red Planet.
In the near future, NASA plans to take its search for life even farther into the solar system to Jupiter's ocean moon Europa. This small moon contains more water beneath its icy shell than all of Earth's oceans combined. NASA's Europa Clipper mission, currently in development, is designed to orbit Europa, make up-close observations, and investigate whether the moon has conditions suitable for life.
Try this STEM strategy card game to get students thinking like the NASA scientists and engineers working on these exciting missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, as they prepare to join the Artemis Generation.
Procedures
Video Tutorial
Learn how to play NASA Space Voyagers, a strategy card game in which students design a robotic space mission to explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond. | Watch on YouTube
Players
This game can be played individually or collaboratively by teams of up to four students. Having students work together will give them a better chance of accomplishing their mission goals to win the game – in the same way that collaborative teams are essential to NASA's missions. Teams of two are recommended.
Objective
The object of the game is to earn enough research points to fully explore a chosen destination (reach the total "exploration value") before running out of cards. Players earn research points by playing spacecraft and instruments at their destination while overcoming any challenges the destination has in store.
Card Types
- Starter Pack (47 cards):
- Resources and Instruments (34 cards)
- Moon Pack (4 cards)
- Mars Pack (9 cards)
- *NEW* Outer Worlds Expansion Pack (8 cards):
- Jupiter & Europa Pack (6 cards)
- Outer Planets & Moons Pack (2 cards)
There are four types of cards: destinations, resources, instruments, spacecraft:
Destinations: These cards represent the location you are setting out to explore, which is chosen at the beginning of the game. Each destination has its own challenges, some even requiring collaborative play. Players will find that some spacecraft and instruments are more appropriate at certain destinations than others.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech | + Expand image
Each destination card has an exploration value (a), which is the number of points you will try to earn to complete your research and win the game. Each turn, the destination card will present a series of challenges to your spacecraft based on the number rolled on the dice. The number rolled determines the event that players must overcome using their available spacecraft and instruments.
Destination cards should stay separate from the rest of the cards.
Resources: There are two categories of resources cards: funding and research.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech | + Expand image
Both are required to purchase spacecraft and instruments. The number inside the icons in the top-right corner of the spacecraft and instruments cards (b) indicates how much of each kind of resource is needed to purchase that card and put it into play.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech | + Expand image
Only one resource card can be played from your hand each turn. When a player uses a resource card, it is “tapped” (turned horizontally to indicate it has been used this turn). At the start of the player's next turn, all tapped cards become untapped (ready to use again) unless environmental conditions from the destination card prevent it.
Instruments: These cards can be purchased with resources cards to give spacecraft extra abilities. You must have the resources indicated in the top-right corner of the card (c) to purchase an instruments card and put it into play. You do not have to have a spacecraft card in play to purchase an instruments card. Instruments can only be added to some kinds of spacecraft (d), which must have an additional instrument allowance noted.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech | + Expand image
Instruments may provide spacecraft with special abilities, resistance to environmental conditions at the destination, improvements in durability, or research bonuses – as indicated on the card (e). For example, an instrument with a note of "+1/+0" provides spacecraft with a bonus point in research strength but no bonus points in durability.
Spacecraft: These cards are the primary method for exploring your destination and earning exploration points. Before they can be played, spacecraft cards must first be purchased with resources cards.
There are a variety of spacecraft cards with different details that make them vulnerable or resistant to different events in space. Placing them strategically on the game mat will help players keep track of how their spacecraft might be affected by different space events.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech | + Expand image
Each spacecraft card includes:
- Resources Cost (f) – The two icons in the top-right corner of each card indicates the amount of research and funding resources needed to purchase that spacecraft and put it into play.
- Power source (g) – These can be solar, RTG, or battery-powered. Events in space may affect spacecraft powered in certain ways more than others. Familiarize yourself with the challenges at your destination to strategize what might work best.
- Bonus abilities (h) – Some advanced spacecraft have special abilities, which will allow them to either perform advanced research, or shield them from events at their destination. These may cost additional resources or turns to use, but will provide a strategic advantage.
- Additional instrument allowance (i) – Some spacecraft can carry additional instruments as indicated in the card description. Players must purchase instruments to add to their spacecraft using resource cards.
- Research value (j) – The first number on the bottom-right of the card indicates the maximum number of research points you can earn with the spacecraft each turn. You can improve this number by adding certain instruments to your spacecraft.
- Durability (k) – The second number on the bottom-right of the card indicates how much total damage the spacecraft can sustain at your destination. If it reaches zero, the spacecraft is destroyed and the card can no longer be used. You can improve your durability by adding certain instruments to your spacecraft.
A spacecraft can research the destination once each turn, meaning the research value, plus any bonus research points, can be subtracted from the destination’s total. Any used spacecraft are tapped (turned sideways to indicate they have been used) until the player's next turn.
Card Vocabulary and Symbols
Review the following vocabulary terms and symbols, which you'll find on the various cards in the deck:
There are four types of spacecraft for each destination:
- Flybys – spacecraft that fly by the planet or world, take images, and make scientific observations from space but do not go into orbit
- Orbiters – spacecraft that circle the planet or world, take images, and make scientific observations from space but do not land
- Landers – spacecraft that land on the surface, take images, and make scientific observations from one location
- Rovers – spacecraft that land on the surface and then drive around to numerous locations to take images and make scientific observations
Spacecraft power sources include solar, RTGs, and batteries:
- Solar – Solar-powered spacecraft receive their power from the Sun. Solar-powered missions can be impacted by radioactive and solar events.
- RTGs – Radioisotope thermoelectric generators, or RTGs, are electrical power sources and the most robust type of power. They are impervious to the weather of the destination.
- Batteries – Batteries can power instruments and spacecraft, but they may have a limited lifespan and need backups.
There are three symbols you will encounter on the game cards:
- Funding – This money symbol associated with funding is used on spacecraft and instruments cards to indicate how many funding cards are required to purchase that card or special ability.
- Research – This beaker symbol associated with research is used on spacecraft and instruments cards to indicate how many research cards are required to purchase that card or special ability.
- Tap – This arrow symbol indicates that the card must be tapped (turned sideways) after the resource, spacecraft, or special ability has been used. Cards are automatically untapped at the start of the next round and can be used again.
Winning the Game
The goal of the game is to subtract the total exploration value of the destination by performing research with available spacecraft. Spacecraft can use their research value, plus additional research points from instruments, each turn to eat away at the total.
The game is won by the players subtracting the total exploration value from their destination before they run out of cards.
Playing with a partner presents a strong collaborative advantage, and cooperation can be very helpful. If playing collaboratively, players can freely discuss the cards in their hands and pool resources together.
Gameplay
- Before starting the game, choose the destination you would like to explore and place that card in the middle of the game mat or somewhere visible for quick reference. Remember, each destination has different challenges that spacecraft must overcome. Players should familiarize themselves with their destination and be strategic about the kinds of spacecraft, power sources, and instruments they use.
- The game begins by each player drawing seven cards from the shuffled deck. Players can choose to replace up to two of their cards, placing their original cards back in the deck.
- Starting with the first player, each player takes a turn consisting of one or more of the following actions. (If playing collaboratively, actions can also be taken using other players' cards):
- Put down a resources card to go toward the purchase of a spacecraft or instrument. Remember that each player can only play one resources card from their hand each turn.
- Purchase a spacecraft and put it into play to start accumulating research points at your destination. You must have the resources identified in the top-right of the card to purchase a spacecraft and put it into play. Once spacecraft are put into play, they can begin accumulating research points at the destination.
- Purchase an instrument. You must have the resources identified in the top-right of the card to purchase an instrument. Instruments can be purchased at any time, but they must be added to a spacecraft to accumulate research points.
- Add an instrument to a spacecraft. Instruments can only be added to spacecraft according to the rules on the spacecraft card. Once instruments are added to a spacecraft, their research value can go toward the destination total.
- Tap all used spacecraft and resources. Turn all used spacecraft and resources cards sideways. They cannot be used again until the next round.
- Draw a new card. At the end of their turn, each player draws one new card from the deck.
- Once all the players have taken a turn:
- Tally the research points. Add up the research value of all used spacecraft and instruments and subtract the amount from the exploration value of the destination.
- Roll the dice to get a challenge from the destination. Roll the dice, and refer to the corresponding number on the destination card to see what actions you must take.
- Take the actions described on the destination card with all relevant spacecraft and instruments in play, tallying damages by placing sticky notes, pennies, or other markers on applicable cards and removing those that reach zero durability.
- Damages are permanent and cumulative as turns continue throughout the game.
- Spacecraft that reach zero durability have failed and are removed from play.
- Some spacecraft and instruments have special abilities that allow them to withstand damages, so be sure to read the cards carefully.
- After players have taken the actions described on the destination card and marked any damages, a new round begins and previously tapped cards that haven't been affected by the events at the destination are reset. Rounds continue in this fashion until players have subtracted the total exploration value of their destination to win the game – or until players can no longer play a hand or the entire deck has been spent.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech | + Expand image
Assessment
- Have students develop a KWL chart (what I know, what I want to know, what I learned) about space missions and the exploration of the Moon and Mars before they begin the game. Students should contribute what they know ("K") and what they want to know ("W") to the chart prior to beginning the game. Revisit the KWL chart when the game concludes for students to establish what they learned ("L").
- Instruct students to complete a written post-mission reflection on what worked well in their game strategically and what could be improved. For example, students may have noticed how certain cards worked well under the environmental conditions at their destination or that certain types of spacecraft were better suited for their destination than others.
Extensions
- Facilitate a discussion using the questions below and then have students revisit their deck of cards for the other destination. What types of missions are possible at this destination?
- Which types of missions are not well suited for this destination?
- What balance do you prefer between resources, spacecraft, and instruments to help facilitate a successful mission?
- What challenges would students face working independently versus collaboratively?
- Build upon this lesson using the Crew Transportation with Orion curriculum module. This educator guide contains lessons that allow students to use geometry to develop a crew module, design and build the crew module for a drop test, construct and test a model of a target docking system, and design a heat shield to protect a crew during a simulated atmospheric reentry.
- Allow students to explore the launch aspect of missions using the Propulsion with the Space Launch System curriculum module. In these activities, students will design fins for a foam rocket, use an altitude tracker and altitude calculator to estimate the height of a rocket at apogee, design and build a balloon-powered rocket, and build an air-powered water rocket to find the optimal amount of water volume to air pressure for producing maximum thrust.
- Use standards-aligned activities in the Habitation with Gateway curriculum module to explore the human element of exploring our solar system. Students will design and build a skeletal structure to support a specified weight, work collaboratively to design and build a space habitat model, create a water filtration system, and use ultraviolet-sensitive beads to test for shielding against UV radiation.
- Check back often for more destinations and mission cards to explore deeper into space.