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Space innovators seek Orlando gamer connection [Orlando Sentinel :: ](Orlando Sentinel (FL) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 29--There's a new effort afoot in Central Florida to connect the struggling space industry to young, innovative tech minds in Orlando, which could boost interest in space and bring fresh ideas to Kennedy Space Center. Sparked by an event over the weekend at the Orlando Science Center, space industry officials said they're forging new connections with Orlando's tech community. "We've had tech events at the Space Center, but it's great to engage in communities outside the immediate area," said Josh Manning, an organizer of Kennedy Space Center's Spaceport Innovators effort. Manning and Jason Hopkins, another NASA engineer, were at the first IndieGalactic Space Jam at the Orlando Science Center. It was so successful, organizer Kunal Patel said he's now talking with more companies about making it an annual event. More than 100 video game developers, mostly in their 20s and early 30s, broke into teams to develop space travel video games. "We're always interested in anything that increases interest in space. We're hoping to see some good ideas here and get the community aware of some of the things were working on," Hopkins said. Patel said he created the event because he saw interest in space travel waning in Florida and wanted to do something about it. He organizes a monthly gaming event called Indienomicon at the Orlando Public Library downtown. Patel, who founded his own company called Phyken Media, actively sought out space industry players by attending space events in Titusville and making connections. "Most of the games were pure fun, but the experience helps people develop their skills and gets people working together with others in the tech and creative community," Patel said. The Space Coast area has been struggling since NASA ended the shuttle program in 2011, causing more than 7,000 job losses. United Launch Alliance -- a Boeing-Lockheed Martin venture -- and SpaceX are launching rockets from the Cape, but a recent decision by SpaceX to build a new facility in Texas has alarmed Florida space interests. Space Florida, the state economic development organization for the space industry, is aimed at capitalizing on new interest. Orlando is also home to the National Center for Simulation, which has an annual Game Tech event, but that is more broadly focused on the defense industry. Dale Ketcham, strategic alliance coordinator for Space Florida, came by IndieGalactic, too. University of Central Florida also played a role; one of the event's organizers was professor Peter Smith. Matt Carlton, an engineer from Daytona Beach, said he was at the event because it was promoting space travel and STEM education. "We need to support STEM in this country. I wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for people who did that for me, years ago," Carlton said. An engineer from SpaceX also checked out the event, and so did Ronald Jones, president of Titusville-based Rocket Crafters. Jones noted that one team was working on ideas for collecting space debris. "Space debris is a very real problem. It's something we need to address," Jones said. Jones provided data for one of the video game teams, regarding Rocket Crafters' attempt to develop a space plane called Sidereus. The big challenge is a horizontal launch. The NASA engineers didn't provide a formal challenge for any of the teams, but they helped out with several teams, in terms of basic launch and space travel equations. On Sunday night about 20 games presented to the crowd, including Martifacts, where the player pilots a Mars rover and collects rocks and other items; Geckos Doin it in Space, where lizards escape their cage in an abandoned Russian space station; and Rocko's Modern Mid-Life Crisis, where Rocko the asteroid sets out to destroy the sun in anger over his lost love, Roxanne. On Sunday night, gamers crowded around to watch the demonstrations in a dark room at the Science Center. "Crash it! Crash it!," they yelled in a group, watching a spacecraft landing simulation. "I'm impressed with the work they've done. They accomplished all this in two days," Hopkins said. [email protected] ___ (c)2014 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) Visit The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) at www.OrlandoSentinel.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |