In the guise of a competition, it seems that Minecraft is looking to recruit astronauts like NASA. The games competition “Galactic Mission” is a worldwide contest lasting four weeks. One hundred competitors will take each other on for a shot at a $15,000 scholarship.
CREATIVE KIDS TARGETED BY MINECRAFT TO ADVANCE EDUCATION
As we all know, education is far from popular amongst kids. On the other hand, video games are. Minecraft is taking advantage of this. In the form of a competition, Minecraft is rewarding a $15,000 scholarship to the winner of their “Galactic Mission”. Minecraft is unique compared to other games. It uses creativity and elements of engineering throughout play. To children, they think they are just playing a game. Little do they know they could make an excellent addition to NASA someday.
THE FUTURE OF NASA RELIES ON GAMERS
The $15,000 scholarship is truly a remarkable concept. Not only are children rewarded for their creativity, but they are encouraged to further their education. NASA should keep an eye on these kids. Their young minds are already rooted in the concept of engineering. Surely, playing Minecraft is hardly the same as becoming an astronaut. Using the game as a tool for recruitment may not be as ridiculous as it sounds. Take 11-year old gamer “Starlord” for example. He expressed his interest in astronomy during an interview. By encouraging this interest through video games, NASA could be looking at a future astronaut right there.
SPACE TRAVEL IS NOW COOL
NASA has just reported a record number of astronaut applicants. Star Wars is back in full swing and popular scientists like Nei DeGrasse Tyson have made astronomy cool. No longer is space travel a dream for the nerds. With SpaceX, Elon Musk has introduced private space exploration. That brings about a whole new world of possibilities to consider. Children today are being brought up in a “pro-space” culture. Succeeding in education is now something to be proud of. Not a reason to get bullied. By harnessing this desire to learn, the future of space travel will surely be a bright one.
