Mission Control: collaboration with Imperial College London
Space Science Through Storytelling and Simulation
Mission Control is an immersive learning experience developed by C&T in partnership with Imperial College London. Combining drama, digital technology and STEM learning, the project places young people at the centre of a simulated space emergency where they must work together to solve complex scientific challenges and make critical decisions under pressure.
The project was created in response to a growing need to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, technologists and problem-solvers. As the global space industry continues to expand, young people will require not only technical knowledge but also creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking. Mission Control was designed to develop these skills through active participation rather than passive learning.
At the heart of the project is a dramatic scenario. Students are recruited into Mission Control and presented with a developing crisis involving space weather, disrupted communications and a vulnerable lunar mission. Working in teams, they investigate evidence, analyse data, model solutions and make decisions that influence the unfolding story. Along the way they encounter concepts drawn from space science, orbital dynamics, coding, engineering, communications technology and environmental monitoring.
Built using the Prospero platform, Mission Control operates as a hybrid learning experience that combines classroom activity with digital interaction. Video content, interactive media, decision-making tasks and collaborative challenges are delivered through a web browser, allowing schools to participate using everyday classroom technology. The platform enables students to work through challenges at their own pace while creating a sense of urgency and immersion within the wider narrative.
Drama and physical theatre techniques play a crucial role in the learning process. Rather than simply reading about scientific concepts, students embody systems, model trajectories, explore communication networks and physically represent relationships between objects and forces. These approaches help make complex ideas accessible while encouraging collaborative problem-solving and creative thinking.
The project draws upon expertise from Imperial College London, bringing young people into contact with contemporary scientific research and real-world career pathways. By connecting scientific content with storytelling and participation, Mission Control helps students understand not only what scientists do, but why their work matters.
Mission Control demonstrates how Story Systems can transform STEM education. By combining scientific enquiry, creativity and digital participation, the project creates engaging learning experiences that encourage young people to imagine themselves as future innovators, researchers and leaders in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Project Overview
Project Title
Mission Control
Programme
Project
Story System
Signal Stories
Status
Pilot: Delivered
Lead Partners
C&T • Imperial College London
Participants
Primary and Secondary School Students
Location
United Kingdom
Themes
STEM Education • Space Science • Future Skills • Creative Technology • Problem Solving • Careers Education
Outputs
Interactive Simulation • Digital Learning Resources • Classroom Activities • Teacher Resources
Digital Infrastructure
Prospero
Key Disciplines
Space Science • Orbital Dynamics • Engineering • Coding • Communications Technology • Environmental Monitoring
Approach
Drama-based enquiry, role play, physical modelling and collaborative problem-solving integrated with digital learning.
Legacy
Mission Control demonstrated how Story Systems can be used to make complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging, while supporting young people to develop the interdisciplinary skills increasingly required within the space and technology sectors.
Related Sectors
Education • Higher Education • Research
Related Programme
ActSmart