High-Level Project Summary
To solve the challenge, we developed an aircraft shooting mobile application named “Space Shooter”. Players will be shooting animated asteroids with their fire-powered spacecraft whilst collecting free-falling coins which can later be used to unlock new spacecraft. In the spacecraft gallery, we introduce to the users NASA’s spacecrafts which are currently in operation and missioned to explore the Sun. This project aims to provide basic space knowledge exposure and immersive gaming experience to the general public. Not to forget, Space Shooter provides a friendly and easy-to-use atmosphere to users across all age groups.
Link to Project "Demo"
Link to Final Project
Detailed Project Description
“Space Shooter” is an educational spacecraft-oriented mobile game specially developed for users across all age groups who are enthusiastic about space and aerophysics.
By selecting one specific spacecraft among those which are available from the spacecraft gallery, for example WIND, SOHO or Parker Solar Probe, players will indulge in an immersive gaming environment where they can shoot the free-falling animated asteroids with their fire-powered chosen spacecraft. Players will be equipped with a specific number of “lives”, which is 6. Hence they need to be careful to avoid their spacecraft from hitting the falling asteroids, as asteroids crashing into their spacecraft will result in them losing one “life”. Loss of all “lives” equipped will lead them to “Game Over”. That’s indeed sad, isn’t it? Alright, just make sure you don’t lose life. In every game, players will be given 3 “Power” chances, which shortens the firepower needed to destroy an asteroid for a specific period of time. In the meantime, every trade for new spacecraft requires a specific amount of coins. Players need to collect the free-falling coins whilst playing the shooting game, which can later be used in order to trade for new spacecraft cards in the gallery. By unlocking new spacecraft cards, details and missioned functions of the spacecraft will be revealed. From the cards, players can have a read about how these spacecraft contribute valuable data and influence humans living on earth.
It is important to achieve our goal by taking on an approach which takes everyone into consideration, including those who have low or zero knowledge about heliophysics. By our proposed means players are encouraged to explore and discover the current operating spacecrafts and their missions in an interesting and easily understandable way. Players will feel the urge to unlock new spacecraft as it provides them a sense of goal and satisfaction, encouraging them to keep on playing and unlocking more. This in a way introduces new scholastic heliophysics knowledge to the players, while providing them an enjoyable and immersive gaming environment, thus accomplishing our origin of increasing the general public awareness about Sun exploration using spacecraft.
By introducing this game to the public we wish to provide basic exposure about missioned spacecraft in action to explore the mysteries of the Sun and raise their awareness on how important these missions are in maintaining the lives of humans on Earth. We long for opportunities to collaborate with major gaming companies to implement our spacecraft system in their games, or might develop a whole new event about the story of the Sun or spacecraft card collections. 3D interactive games can also be a possible path of development as they provide a stronger sense of enjoyment and better gaming experience.
At the prototype planning stage we used Figma to idealize and visualize the game layout and the flow of “Space Shooter”. Development of this project mainly revolves around the use of Android Studio, to implement all the proposed features and attributes. Coding languages needed involve Java and C++. Hardware generally involves computers and mobile phones, whereas software involves Android or IOS.
Space Agency Data
By referring to the different missions designed to explore the Sun as published in the official website of NASA from NASA Science Missions | Science Mission Directorate, we are inspired to develop a project which helps the general public understand that different spacecraft are developed with different missions and intentions. Using the fleet posters attached in the website, we can introduce players to the operating spacecraft, which in a sense help those who are clueless in space knowledge to be aware of the effort done to explore outer space, especially the Sun, and to understand every in-action-spacecraft’s special features, routes, goals, concepts or specialisations. By providing them basic exposure about space little by little, we believe their interest to learn and discover more about space, solar system, Sun or Earth exploration will eventually grow.
Hackathon Journey
Definitely an eye opening one. As we are a group of students from Computer Science background, this hackathon provided us exposure to brand new knowledge which cannot be obtained solely from our own area of specialisation. Being introduced to different spacecraft designed with different missions for the purpose of Sun exploration has intrigued and overwhelmed us with wonders and surprises. The journey to space exploration is indeed without boundaries. It has also made us realize the great effort conducted by professionals to improve humans living on Earth by the means of space exploration.
The Sun is the reason why we are all alive. It is our source of light, heat and energy. Even though it is the closest star to us human beings, nobody has ever been to the Sun, because of its beautiful yet overwhelming heat. It is one striking and bold yet mysterious star. Advancement in space technology has led us closer to the Sun than ever before, but the true mystery lying within the beautiful star itself is yet to be revealed. Now let us imagine, how amazing would it be when we finally achieve the milestone of managing to observe what is actually happening on the Sun using spacecraft? Or when we finally have the chance to set foot on the Sun without disintegrating?
Coming to discuss our approach to tackle the challenge, understanding the problem statement is undoubtedly the first step. It is important to understand thoroughly what is the issue we need to solve first before we brainstorm about ideas and possible solutions to fulfil the project objectives. What follows is an open-minded discussion between all team members, to come to a consensus about the solution that is to be implemented. It is essential to ensure our solution fits the problem statement at all times.
The biggest challenge in this hackathon is definitely the lack of knowledge related to heliophysics by all members. Extensive research needs to be done by us all before implementing a solution as to ensure we understand the problem thoroughly. This requires a major amount of time and effort, as it is never easy to embark on a journey which revolves around the use of knowledge of an entirely new area of specialisation. As the hackathon only allocates a 2 days period in total, it is even more difficult for us to come up with this solution. Not forgetting that this hackathon needs to be conducted virtually, so are our discussions. Things would be a lot easier if all members could meet up face to face, for the purpose of discussing codes or all possible approaches to tackle the hackathon.
References
Tools: Figma
Resources:
- NASA Missions Posters from https://science.nasa.gov/toolkits/heliophysics-mission-posters
- NASA Science Missions (Universe, Solar System, Sun and Earth) from https://science.nasa.gov/missions-page?field_division_tid=5&field_phase_tid=All
- NASA Heliophysics Fleet from https://science.nasa.gov/heliophysics
- ISWA System Web App from https://iswa.gsfc.nasa.gov/IswaSystemWebApp/
- JASIG application from Google Play Store
Tags
#mobilegame,#game,#spacecraft,#sun,#shooting,#asteroid,#coin,#spacecraftcard,#space,#NASA
Global Judging
This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.