Students build and launch rockets in virtual reality as part of new course, “Intro to Satellite Engineering”

This fall, students taking the 16.851 Intro to Satellite Engineering course had the opportunity to assemble and launch rockets with the help of a custom-built virtual reality simulation. Developed by grad student Mollie Johnson (Engineering Systems Lab), the educational module transported students to NASA’s Space Launch Complex 40 where students experienced a Falcon 9 rocket launch at a 1:1 scale using Meta Quest 2 VR headsets.

The simulation featured an immersive rocket assembly scene, in which students had to assemble a mini Falcon 9 rocket using basic components. “For some students, this was their first time experiencing a rocket launch,” says Johnson, “But even experienced students who have worked in the launch vehicle industry noted the level of immersion and accuracy.” The course contributed to research for an award-winning paper at the 2024 American Society of Engineering Education annual conference.

Johnson has created other simulations for classwork, with lunar simulations for her project in the 16.89 Space Systems Design, and for competition, with a Mars simulation of the “MARTEMIS” habitat created for MIT’s NASA RASC-AL competition submission in spring 2024. 

“As the developer, this is my favorite simulation that I have made so far. I brought in the realism of the launch pad, based on the actual one in Cape Canaveral, plus the Falcon 9, and mixed it with futuristic sci-fi visuals to make it fun and engaging,” says Johnson.

Johnson and course instructors Prof. Olivier de Weck and Prof. Kerri Cahoy plan to continue the VR offering in future classes.