Artemis: Rocket Build

Blast off to the moon with this superstellar map created in partnership with NASA. Meet scientists and engineers, explore jet propulsion, and design a rocket. Test your creation with a fiery launch!

Open in Minecraft

Submitted by: Minecraft Education

Updated: April 19, 2023

Learning objectives

Welcome to Launch Control! Artemis: Rocket Build is part of a series designed as a fun and creative introduction to the Artemis Program, the robotic and human exploration program led by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other partner agencies to return astronauts to the lunar surface by 2024.

Artemis: Rocket Build has the following learning objectives:

  1. To learn about the Artemis program and its significance 
  2. To use Newton’s laws to understand how forces work and how these laws impact rockets’ ability to fly. 
  3. To learn about the parts of the Space Launch System and how propulsion and fuels are important to get the rocket off the ground and into space 
  4. To better understand the Artemis missions (past, present, and future) 
  5. To apply knowledge of Newton's Laws and a pre-set budget to assemble, design, paint, and launch a satellite, cargo rocket, and crewed rocket.

This one-hour experience will provide students, ages 8-18, with special in-game instruction to learn information about the Artemis program, the different components of rockets, and what is exactly needed in order to build and launch a rocket successfully! Players will also have the opportunity to practice their new knowledge and skills with a special mission. 

This Educator Guide is designed to provide you with information to help you support gameplay for all students. This guide will provide you with background information and helpful information to help you feel comfortable and confident to utilize this learning content in your educational environment. Within this guide, you will find the necessary materials to lead an intentional experience to engage in dialog around the Artemis program, facilitate a successful in-game experience, and support student learning throughout gameplay.   

Artemis: Rocket Build is divided into two main areas (Arrival at Launch Control and Vehicle Assembly Building) with four main activities detailed under guiding ideas.

If you are ready, accept your first mission and get started! 

How can this lesson be used?

SCIENCE

Integrated into science classrooms

Artemis I: Rocket Build is connected to numerous science standards. You could easily look at your academic standards and use this learning content when you are teaching scientific process skills, Earth and space science standard, or physics. This learning content is a great way to model and simulate abstract science concepts such as gravity, force, and motion.

STEM/STEAM

Labs or Digital Makerspaces

Who wouldn’t love to use Minecraft in a fully integrated learning environment where everything from the furniture and technology to curriculum and assessment work together to support hands-on, minds-on learning?! The Artemis learning content could be used for student exploration through this applied technology.

Afterschool/Enrichment learning opportunities

After a full instructional day, students need something fun and engaging to provide motivation for learning. What could possibly be more fun and engaging than Minecraft Education?! Not only will students love playing Minecraft, but they will also learn educational concepts and develop their skills in creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Camps and Clubs

Are you planning or hosting a summer or afterschool camp? Who doesn’t love a space-themed camp?! This learning content could be included in a space exploration week of fun and learning! Students will also have the opportunity to learn about great careers at NASA!

Homeschool groups

You don’t have to be exclusively at a school or part of a school district to utilize Minecraft Education. Homeschools, families, and other organizations can purchase and manage Minecraft Education through our commercial offer. You can find more information here.

Activity 1: Learning about the Artemis Program (Launch Control)

Lesson 1

Purpose: Learn about the Artemis program and its significance 

  • NASA will land the first woman and person of color on the Moon as part of the Artemis missions. 
  • NASA will use new technologies to explore more of the Moon than ever before. 
  • NASA will work with other countries to set up a permanent base on the Moon. 
  • NASA will take the learnings from the time spent on the Moon to help send astronauts to Mars for the first time.
  • Discovery, economy, and inspiration are the driving forces behind why we are going back to the Moon. 

Lesson 2

Purpose: Understand how a rocket works 

  • Engineers use Newton’s laws to understand how forces work and how these laws impact rockets’ ability to fly. 
    • Newton’s First Law of Motion: An object at rest stays at rest or an object in motion stays in motion, until acted upon by an outside force. Basically, objects like to stay still or keep moving until something else makes them change. 
    • Newton’s Second Law of Motion: This law is an equation (F=ma), which mathematically explains how fast an object moves or changes depends on how heavy it is and how hard it is pushed. 
    • Newton’s Third Law of Motion: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. 

Lesson 3

Purpose: Learn about the parts of the Space Launch System and how propulsion and fuels are important to get the rocket off the ground and into space 

  • The rocket must carry the spaceship, astronauts, fuel to launch the rocket, and enough fuel to return to Earth – the rocket is heavy! Propulsion and fuel are critical for our rocket launch. 
  • Rockets have taken on many shapes over the years.
  • Rocket fuel can be liquid or solid. Our rocket will be powered by liquid hydrogen and polybutadiene acrylonitrile (PBAN).
  • Parts of the Artemis Space Launch System (SLS)
  • Rocket boosters
  • Core stage
  • Rocket engines
  • Orion spacecraft
  • Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) 

Lesson 4 

Purpose: To better understand the Artemis missions (past, present, and future) 

  • There are multiple missions in Artemis. 
  • Artemis I: This mission was successfully completed in December 2022 with the return of the unmanned Orion spacecraft. This launch proved the technology capabilities and paves the way for the crewed missions. 
  • Artemis II: Currently scheduled for 2024, Artemis II will carry a four-member crew of astronauts farther than any humans have ever been in space—beyond the far side of the Moon. The 8-10 day mission will include testing Orion’s systems to ensure the crew can live in space, demonstrating operations needed for future missions, orbiting the Moon, and collecting data before returning to Earth.  
  • Artemis III: This will be the first crewed Moon landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. Astronauts in Orion will dock with Gateway and transfer to the Human Landing System to visit the Moon’s South Pole region. The crew will remain in space for about a month before returning to Earth. 

Part 2: Vehicle Assembly Building 

Activity 2: Assemble, design, paint, and launch a satellite based on a budget

Activity 3: Assemble, design, paint, and launch a cargo rocket based on a budget

Activity 4: Assemble, design, paint, and launch a rocket for a crew  based on a budget

Mission Complete!

 

  1. Students will successfully complete the four lessons in the classroom area of Launch Control
  2. Students will successfully prototype, design and launch a satellite, based on a given budget
  3. Students will successfully prototype, design and launch a cargo rocket, based on a given budget.
  4. Students will successfully prototype, design and launch a crew-sustaining rocket, based on a given budget and accurate angle.

Classroom Presentation
Classroom POwerPoint deck to guide your students through the Rocket Build map.
World File
Artemis: Rocket Build world file
Educator Guide
Artemis: Rocket Build educator guide
Challenger Center: Overview of Extension Activities
Six robust extension lessons aligned to the Minecraft Artemis Missions made in collaboration with NASA.
Challenger Center: Lunar Lander Challenge
Design a Lunar Lander Prototype
Challenger Center: What Does It Take to Make a Winning Team?
Students will explore the life of astronauts and learn about a particular team.
Challenger Center: Moontastic Challenge
Design a Base Fit for Humans
Challenger Center: It’s Just Rocket Science
Students become Propulsion Engineers as they explore the scientific forces of motion that send rockets up, up, and away!
Challenger Center: Coding Your Way to a Computer Science Career
Students will discover how women at NASA used their computer skills to make a big impact.
Challenger Center: Apollo to Artemis and Beyond
An Introduction to the United States History of Moon Exploration
downloadDownload world

Skills

  • Creativity
  • Critical thinking

Estimated time

45 min