Minecraft Artemis Missions Let Future Astronauts Practice Their Skills

NASA is preparing to take students on a lunar adventure courtesy of Minecraft.

The Minecraft Education Artemis Missions invite learners to design and launch a moon rocket, then program their way around the Orion space capsule.

Don’t let a missing PhD or medical degree, zero pilot-in-command experience, or chronic asthma stop you from achieving your astronaut dreams. The Minecraft Artemis Missions games(Opens in a new window) are designed to engage young people, spark interest in STEM, and develop a lifelong love of learning.

In Rocket Build, players put their problem-solving skills and creativity to the test, learning about rocket design and propulsion, as well as the demands of leaving our atmosphere. Return to the Moon, meanwhile, takes a more computer science-based approach: Students virtually board the Orion space capsule, where they must complete collaborative coding missions in Python or MakeCode while orbiting Earth’s satellite.

“Humanity’s interest in exploring the unknown and discovering new worlds has been constant throughout history, from gazing dreamily at distant planets to building powerful telescopes and rovers,” Minecraft Education says(Opens in a new window). “Space exploration has pushed the boundaries of science and technology, leading to the creation of new industries and fostering peaceful connections with other nations.”

The real-world Artemis program aims to reestablish a human presence on the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. The Artemis I mission successfully launched from Earth in November using NASA’s giant Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket currently in existence. Artemis 2 is scheduled for late 2024(Opens in a new window).

“NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, explore the lunar surface, and work to establish the first long-term human-robotic presence on the Moon for our next great leap to send astronauts to Mars,” Minecraft Education adds. “It’s truly never been a more exciting time to bring space into the classroom.”

Artemis Missions are available in the Minecraft Education lessons library; Bedrock players can access Artemis: Rocket Build on the Minecraft Marketplace.