THE TEAM

We are 6 university students with very different tastes and roles but the one thing that tied us all together was the excitement to learn new things while also being able to explore arts and science. This was the perfect challenge for us. It allowed us to research and learn more about exoplanets and the world surrounding us, which was really special. It also made it possible for us to go deep on our creativity and create a story that spoke to us and made it even more entertaining to learn and explore.

THE SCIENCE

When we decided on the project theme, it was clear to us that we had to make our planet as realistic as possible, and, since our character was meant to live on the planet, it had to be somewhere that had life possibility.

We decided then to focus our research on the TRAPPIST. TRAPPIST-1E is an exoplanet located in the Milky Way, at a notable distance of 41 light-years from Earth. This galaxy is home to a dwarf star and a planetary system consisting of seven orbiting planets. TRAPPIST-1E is particularly intriguing because it resides in the so-called habitable zone, also known as the 'Goldilocks zone' - a region around a star where temperature conditions are ideal for the presence of liquid water on a planet's surface. Through complex simulations, scientists have concluded that TRAPPIST-1E is predominantly composed of rocky material (1). Due to the fact that its parent star is a red dwarf, the habitable zone of this planet is relatively closer to the star (2). Furthermore, a recent study published in the Planetary Science Journal reveals that TRAPPIST-1E shares a similar chemical composition with other rocky planets, containing elements such as iron, oxygen, magnesium, and silicon. However, it is worth noting that this planet may have a density approximately 8% lower than that of Earth. Based on this discovery, the authors of the article speculate that different combinations of elements could explain this density discrepancy in TRAPPIST-1E (3).

NASA's HabEx mission aims to study exoplanets. The mission would use a large telescope to capture detailed images of exoplanets and search for signs of life. One of the exoplanets that HabEx would study is TRAPPIST-1E. TRAPPIST-1E is located in the habitable zone of its star, which means it is at the right distance from its star to have liquid water on its surface. HabEx would be able to obtain high-resolution images of TRAPPIST-1E. This would allow scientists to identify features such as oceans, mountains, and valleys on the planet's surface. HabEx could also detect the presence of water vapor, methane, and other gasses in the atmosphere, which directly influence the color of the sky, the ocean, and the surface. These gasses are often associated with life. In addition, HabEx could search for signs of vegetation, such as chlorophyll, on the planet's surface, which thrives in a radiation-rich environment. HabEx could also study other exoplanets, including planets orbiting other stars and planets that are still in formation. The mission would help scientists better understand the formation and evolution of exoplanets and search for signs of life beyond Earth (4). HabEx is still in the planning phase, and it is not yet known when the mission will be launched. However, the mission has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of life beyond Earth.

Therefore, our choice of the planet was based on the wealth of information provided by NASA about this incredible exoplanet. In turn, the exploration dynamics aim to simulate a real mission, so the user controls the astronaut as he performs tasks such as collecting vegetation and water samples, investigating microbial life, and learning about the environmental conditions of the planet.

THE JOURNEY

We went through a few phases while developing our project. First, we brainstormed to build out our idea and combine our story and what our planet was about.

After building the story, we began deciding what kind of project we wanted to make and settled for an interactive storybook that allowed our narrative to come through while also keeping the user engaged and attentive to the story. Then, we developed a wireframe, which helped us get a first look into what we were thinking and make it a little bit easier when it came the time to actually design our experience. We then made all our assets trying to be as faithful as possible to what our planet would actually be like. Finally, we designed what would be the actual experience and tied it all together, making the story and the design seem like they were intertwined all along.

THE EXPERIENCE

During the experience, it is possible to explore and interact with these simulated environmental conditions, learning how they affect life and the astronaut's decisions. For example, the user may face challenges related to radiation, reflecting NASA's information about the actual conditions on TRAPPIST-1E. This helps the user understand the complexities of living in a different environment and highlights the importance of NASA's research in characterizing exoplanets. In the experience, the user has the opportunity to collect water samples from the planet to conduct experiments to search for microorganisms. This reflects NASA's ongoing commitment to searching for extraterrestrial life and understanding the diversity of life in the universe, as recent studies have shown that the search for microbial life is a crucial aspect of exoplanet exploration. Scientists are interested in investigating microbial life because, in many cases, microorganisms can be potential indicators of habitability.

We sought to implement educational elements by integrating educational components, providing information about exoplanets, astrobiology, and space exploration throughout the storybook to promote learning while having fun. Therefore, the experience offers the user the opportunity to explore and learn about the environmental conditions of a scientifically similar planet to TRAPPIST-1E based on NASA's scientific information, while also engaging them in the search for microbial life, demonstrating the importance of these aspects in the research of habitable exoplanets.

THE DESIGN

For our visual identity, we began by researching exoplanets, ultimately focusing on the intriguing TRAPPIST-1 system. Its unique red starlight on some planets piqued our interest, driving us to explore their surface environments. This allowed us to dive deeper into TRAPPIST's features, drawing inspiration from concept art and NASA resources. As our creative journey evolved, we meticulously designed scene wireframes to shape and further guide our storytelling.

Our color palette selection was rooted in the characteristics discovered through our research, especially from TRAPPIST-1e. We embraced red to reflect the star's predominant hue and used blue to emphasize the presence of water, creating striking visual contrasts. This thoughtful balance enhanced our narrative's impact.

Subsequently, we embarked on scene development, collectively crafting and styling assets for each one. Our team diligently refined and iterated on these elements to ensure consistent and cohesive visual storytelling. We also made an effort to introduce certain elements of our own culture into the design, which was very important to us. Those elements can be seen on the character's last name, which is traditionally Brazillian, and also the Brazilian flag on the spaceship.

Ultimately, the collaborative effort shifted towards the development of the landscapes to be presented, where we meticulously integrated all assets and narrative text components.

To elevate the experience, we also introduced animations and sound to some of the scenes, adding depth and immersion to select parts of the story!

All the assets were made using Figma, an ideal tool for collaborative projects like ours. This collaborative platform allowed us to seamlessly tap into our collective creativity, strategically placing elements throughout the story to maximize immersion.

In the end, our journey culminated in an immersive experience, weaving together meticulous research, artistic vision, and technological innovation. The result is a visual identity that not only captures the essence of the TRAPPIST-1 system but also transports our audience into a captivating world beyond our own, the SCPLLR-46 Planet, where science and art converge to tell an unforgettable story.

THE SOFTWARE

We mainly used the software Figma to develop the project. By using figma, we could explore our creativity while also being able to create a final project that met our design goals and also told the story we intended to tell. Furthermore, Figma is a software that is free to use, and, in that way, we can ensure that everyone who wants to see and interact with our experience can do so. Figma is available on the web as well as on mobile, but for better visualization, we greatly encourage the use on the web.

Figma Design file link: https://www.figma.com/file/gBSZ4TY9lkOqgH81xvKQuE/Design?type=design&node-id=0%3A1&mode=design&t=PG6unpSutpfSyPKh-1

Figma Figjam link: https://www.figma.com/file/G61uQCSu7dDX11JLLNofvJ/Brainstorm?type=whiteboard&node-id=0%3A1&t=1U8SI3cJcWWrGfPV-1

References

2023 NASA Space Apps Challenge

SCPLLR 46