Physical Media
Mission Control: The Board Game
A tabletop simulation of NASA program management, complete with political chaos and budgetary heartbreak.
Project Overview
Mission Control is a custom-designed board game that simulates the real-world challenges of managing a NASA program. Players take on roles such as Administrator, Budget Officer, or Congressional Liaison, navigating complex decision-making, political pressure, and technical constraints to get a mission to the launchpad—or fail spectacularly in the attempt.
Many students and professionals interested in space exploration don’t understand the political and bureaucratic layers involved in real-world space missions. This game addresses that by blending systems thinking with chaos management, giving players a firsthand (and often hilarious) look at the frustrations and triumphs of space program administration.
I created the concept, designed the mechanics, wrote the rulebook, and built a physical prototype. I also developed event cards inspired by real NASA missions and historical scenarios, blending satire and realism to deepen learning.
4
Playable characters with unique roles and skills
80
Resource cards with unique abilities
6
Creative missions for replayability
24
Setbacks for players to overcome together
Unlike most educational games, Mission Control doesn’t have a guaranteed happy ending. It’s fully possible for all players to fail due to underfunding, public backlash, or internal miscommunication, just like in real life. This design choice encourages reflection on systemic challenges rather than just rewarding strategic gameplay.