NASA Ames Collaborates on Lunar Race Simulation Learning System

John Bluck / Michael Mewhinney Aug. 22, 2006
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Phone: 650-604-5026/9000

Al Abrams
Abrams Creative, Tarzana, Calif.
Phone: 818-343-6365

NEWS RELEASE: 06-62AR

NASA AMES COLLABORATES ON LUNAR RACE SIMULATION LEARNING SYSTEM

NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., has signed an
agreement to collaborate with VirtueArts, Inc., and VirtuePlay, Inc.,
both of Los Angeles, Calif., for engineering and real-time simulation
training in a variety of applications, including a dynamic learning
system that allows users to virtually race lunar buggies on the moon
in 3D.

The Lunar Racing Championship software simulates driving on the moon.
It will be demonstrated to the public at the AIAA Space 2006
Conference & Exposition, Sept. 19-21 at the San Jose McEnery
Convention Center, San Jose, Calif. News media will have an
opportunity to drive the lunar buggies during a preview at NASA Ames
Research Center on Thursday, Aug. 31, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. PDT. The
preview opportunity will be held in the Exploration Center, the large
white dome located at the main gate to NASA Ames.

"The technology used in this type of software can help advance future
NASA exploration by providing realistic simulations of complex
missions," said Dan Rasky, a senior scientist at NASA Ames.
"Immersion racing on the moon is the introduction to being on the
moon."

The Lunar Racing Championship simulation was developed from actual
lunar mission footage derived from the 1998 Clementine mission. The
software realistically simulates the moon's gravity, one sixth of
that on Earth.

Under the terms of the three-year memorandum of understanding with
VirtueArts, Inc., and VirtuePlay, Inc., NASA will collaborate with
the two corporations in several areas of mutual interest, including
engineering design tools, simulation and modeling tools,
multi-disciplinary collaborative design tools, data visualization
tools, multimedia outreach and education, logistics modeling and
studies, mission planning, and human factors simulation studies.

During the simulated lunar races, drivers are seated in individual
racing pods, complete with race car seats, force feedback steering
wheels and gas and brake pedals. High-fidelity stereo, head-mounted
displays with four-directional head-tracking devices enable drivers
to look in any direction and see the racecourse, other racers and the
lunar terrain in 3D.

Each lunar buggy is equipped with various thrusters to help maintain
stability and traction, as well as jumps and bursts of speed. Each
race lasts approximately five minutes and will take place in a
variety of locations on the moon: Hadley Rille, Amundsen Crater,
Alpine Valley and the Tycho Crater.

"The Lunar Racing Championship demonstration is a truly unique
experience that combines the adrenaline-pumping immersion, with real
low-gravity physics and the accurate terrain of the moon," said Steve
Henderson, senior vice president of sales for VirtueArts, Inc.

"The Lunar Racing Championship not only provides immersion racing on
a simulated lunar surface in virtual reality, it also creates a
dynamic learning experience for the user," said Mary Duda,
CEO/President of VirtuePlay, Inc. "Our goal is to transform education
by immersing students in fun learning experiences."

Duda said she envisions that students who participate in the lunar
races will be inspired to build their own lunar robots. Following the
AIAA conference, the corporation plans to offer an on-line version of
the lunar race experience to students and schools throughout the
country, and provide lunar buggy tool kits to assist the students to
build their lunar racers.

With this program, NASA continues the agency's tradition of investing
in the nation's education programs. NASA is committed to building
strategic partnerships and linkages between formal and informal
education providers. Through hands-on, interactive educational
activities, NASA is engaging students, educators, families, the
general public and all agency stakeholders to increase Americans'
science and technology literacy.

For information about NASA and agency programs, please visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/home

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