The European Space Agency
Year
2017
Science topic
Basic principles of orbital mechanics
Deliverables
- Script
- Lineart
- Colour and lettering
- Digital flipbook with pop-out videos
An educational digital comic about orbital mechanics.
Developed as a resource for astronaut basic training and a tool for outreach, this comic integrates basic concepts of orbital mechanics into an engaging storyline. Readers interact with the comic as a digital flip book with embedded educational animations that drive the plot. The comic was developed as a prototype as part of an internship at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne.
Storyline
Zee is a rebellious and resourceful girl with a dream to traverse the stars under the banner of The Academy, a global program to seek out new planets for a growing population. Zee’s sister, Grace, lives on board The Academy’s orbiting space station and Zee misses her terribly.
When Zee hears Grace won’t be coming home for her birthday, Zee hatches an ambitious plot to make her own way to the orbiting station. Accompanied by her closest friend, an AI smartphone named Kepler, Zee races to learn the principles of orbital mechanics to survive the journey and avoid being caught by her father.
Characters
Zee
Zee is a girl aged 14
Characteristics
Curious, resourceful, troublemaker
Motivation
To see her sister on her birthday
Kepler
Kepler is a smartphone with a sophisticated AI
Characteristics
Knowledgeable, loyal, anxious
Motivation
To support Zee and to stay alive
Project Stats
Based on a 6 member focus group
50
Percent of users reported knowing more about orbital mechanics after reading the comic
50
Percent of users felt more positive about using stories as a learning tool after reading the comic
17
Percent of users chose to learn more about orbital mechanics after reading the comic