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Europa Prime VR Launches Alongside NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission to Inspire a New Generation of STEM Learners

EPVR is an immersive educational game that combines real-world science with interactive gameplay, launching alongside NASA's Europa Clipper mission to inspire STEM learning, especially for neurodiverse audiences.

Seattle, WA – [October 14,2024] — MXTreality is excited to announce the launch of Europa Prime VR, an innovative educational virtual reality (VR) game that immerses players in the scientific mysteries of Jupiter’s moon, Europa. Coinciding with NASA’s highly anticipated Europa Clipper Mission, Europa Prime VR aims to inspire a new generation of learners by combining real-world science with interactive, inclusive gameplay.

NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, launched today, October 14, 2024, and will begin a 5-year journey to Jupiter with the ultimate goal of exploring the icy moon Europa, investigating its potential to harbor life beneath its thick crust of ice. Europa Prime VR takes players on a similar journey of discovery, allowing them to become scientists, astronauts, and engineers on a fictional mission to Europa, where they must solve puzzles, conduct experiments, and explore an imagined ecosystem of alien life.


“Our goal with Europa Prime VR is to make STEM education not only accessible but also engaging for learners of all backgrounds”, said Jeff Rayner, CEO of MXTreality.


“As NASA embarks on its mission to explore Europa, we’re giving players the opportunity to engage with relevant science in a virtual environment—exploring astrobiology, planetary science, and the search for life in our solar system.”, said Teon Edwards, Project Lead & Co-Founder, EdGE at Terc.



A Unique Approach to STEM Learning

Europa Prime VR is part of the UniVRsal Access initiative, which aims to broaden participation in STEM education, particularly for neurodiverse learners. In collaboration with EdGE at TERC, Landmark College, and backed by the National Science Foundation (NSF Grant: DRL-2005447), Europa Prime VR offers a neurodivergent-friendly experience that promotes curiosity and problem-solving in a way that is engaging for learners of all abilities.


In the game, players are tasked with exploring Europa’s lunar base and subsurface ocean, conducting scientific research to discover potential signs of life. The game is designed with real scientific principles in mind, drawing inspiration from NASA’s ongoing exploration of Europa.


Customizable sensory options and dynamic in-game assistance ensure that learners with diverse needs can navigate and enjoy the game at their own pace.


“By launching Europa Prime VR alongside NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, we’re not just riding the excitement of space exploration; we’re giving players an active role in understanding the science behind it” said Jamie Larsen, Co-Founder & Instructional Designer, EdGE at Terc. “Our hope is that this game will spark an interest in STEM fields, especially for those who may not have had access to such educational opportunities before.”


Key Features of Europa Prime VR:

  • STEM-Based Puzzles: Players engage with scientific tools like spectrometers and underwater research drones to analyze Europa’s environment and unlock clues about potential life.

  • Immersive Environments: Explore a detailed, 3D representation of Europa’s surface, lunar base, underground oceans, and hydrothermal vents, inspired by real data from NASA’s mission.

  • Inclusive Design: Customizable accessibility options and neurodivergent-friendly gameplay make Europa Prime VR engaging for all learners.

  • Interactive Learning: The game blends astrobiology, engineering, and planetary science into an engaging narrative that progresses as players solve challenges.


Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists

MXTreality’s Europa Prime VR serves as a complement to NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, offering players a hands-on way to engage with planetary science and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. With the Clipper mission set to explore Europa’s ice-covered oceans in search of life, players of Europa Prime VR will be following in the footsteps of real-world scientists, learning the fundamentals of astrobiology and problem-solving in the process.


As NASA prepares to explore one of the most intriguing moons in the solar system, Europa Prime VR will engage young learners, educators, and space enthusiasts alike, helping to shape the next generation of scientists, engineers, and astronauts.



For More Information

For details on the game and related experiences, please visit www.europaprime.org.


About MXTreality

MXTreality is a leading virtual and augmented reality development studio based in Seattle, WA, specializing in immersive experiences for education, training, and entertainment. With a focus on creating inclusive and accessible technology, MXTreality is dedicated to leveraging virtual reality to broaden participation in STEM fields and empower diverse learners. Visit www.mxtreality.com 


About EdGE at Terc

TERC is a non-profit science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education research and development company in Cambridge, MA. TERC has a passion for social justice and strives to create level playing fields for all learners, reaching more than three million students every year. We believe STEM moves the world forward, and we exist to move STEM learning forward.  Visit www.terc.edu.


About NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission

NASA’s Europa Clipper mission is designed to investigate Jupiter’s moon Europa, a world with a vast ocean beneath its icy surface. The spacecraft will perform dozens of flybys of Europa to gather data on its ice shell, ocean, and geology, seeking to understand its potential to harbor life. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/europa.


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