NASA Submits RFI for Education Virtual World

The space agency calls it a "NASA-based Massively Multiplayer Online Learning Game," but the idea is the same. Yesterday NASA posted a Request for Information saying that the NASA Learning Technologies Project Office "is currently evaluating the development of a NASA-based massively multiplayer online educational game (MMO)." NASA has been looking at virtual worlds applications for some time and even set up a space in Whyville to promote the Jet Propulsion Lab, but this new world aims to be much more immersive: with "powerful physics capabilities [that] could support accurate in-game experimentation and research" to "simulate real NASA engineering and science missions in a medium that is comfortable and familiar to the majority of students in the United States today" and "provide opportunities for students to investigate STEM career paths while participating in engaging game-play." It's meant to be both a collaborative workspace and a gameplay-based environment to encourage participation. Read the full RFI here.

Comments

[nic mitham]

...but they don't want to pay for it.

http://foo.secondlifeherald.com/slh/2008/04/nasa-wants-an-m.html