Can you play sports...in space?

Challenger Center, Red Knight, and Richard Garriott challenge students with new interactive game

Alexandria, VA and Richardson, TX - What happens when you block an opponent on Mars, leap for a reception on the Moon, or throw a tight spiral on the space station? Students can test and predict the physics of these sports moves in space through a new on-line game at www.sportsinspace.com. Red Knight Learning Systems and the Challenger Center for Space Science Education have launched a new interactive learning game to support Richard Garriott's upcoming trip to the International Space Station (ISS). Garriott is scheduled to fly to the ISS this October and during his 10-day trip he will conduct a number of educational activities, several of which will demonstrate sports moves in the zero-G environment of space. Football moves such as throwing, jumping, and blocking will performed by Richard to show how Newtonian physics differ on orbit.

The web-based educational game challenges students to try out these three basic football actions in the 1G environments of Earth, the 1/3 gravity of Mars, and the 1/6 gravity of the Moon, and then have them predict what will happen in Zero-G. The game features Richard and former NFL linebacker Ken Harvey joining him in the game, helping to demonstrate throwing, jumping, and blocking in space. "We are enthusiastic supporters of space science education and games, so what better partners could we ask for than the Challenger Center, Richard Garriott and Ken Harvey?" stated John Purdy, president of Red Knight Learning Systems. Lessons in support of Garriott's on orbit activities, plus archived webcasts, podcasts, and blogs, and student's predications submitted via YouTube video are available on Challenger Center's national website, www.challenger.org.

Challenger Center for Space Science Education was founded in 1986 by the families of the astronauts of the space shuttle Challenger 51-L mission. It is dedicated to the educational spirit of that mission and impacts over 300,000 students and 25,000 teachers each year. Challenger Learning Center programs at 50 centers around the world continue the crew's mission of engaging teachers and students in science, mathematics, engineering and technology. To locate a Challenger Learning Center near you, visit www.challenger.org.

Red Knight creates innovative learning solutions with the motto: "Better Learning. Better Lives." Their focus is on helping people learn through highly immersive and interactive games, simulations, and explorations. Better ways to learn mean better-educated employees, clients, visitors, members, teachers, students, and children. For more information about Serious Games, Immersive Learning Simulations, Virtual Learning Worlds, Digital Exhibits, and Video Learning at Red Knight, please visit www.redknightlearning.com.

For program information, please contact:

Rita Karl, Director of Education, Challenger Center for Space Science Education, Alexandria, VA 703-535-1345; rkarl@challenger.org

John A. Purdy, President, Red Knight Learning Systems (972) 424-7557; info@redknightlearning.com

If you are a member of the media and would like to request an interview with Richard Garriott, please contact: Stacey Tearne, Space Adventures 703-894-2192, stearne@spaceadventures.com

To request an interview with Ken Harvey, please contact Allen Herbert, Jaka Consulting Group (703) 307-4709; Allen.Herbert@jakaconsulting.com; http://www.spacesportilization.com/