July 15, 2026
SEATTLE, Wash. — August Interactive, a woman-owned game studio focused on solving real-world challenges through play, today announces a Space Act Agreement with NASA to collaborate on Moonbase Y – an interactive game inspired by the real technology challenges of returning humans to the Moon and traveling to Mars. Through this agreement, August Interactive will work with NASA to translate real-world space exploration challenges into engaging gameplay. Drawing from publicly available NASA research—including technology gaps, mission architecture, and engineering constraints—Moonbase Y will allow players to step into the role of problem-solvers tackling the same kinds of challenges NASA engineers face today.
The result: a game where entertainment meets real science—and where players don’t just play, but learn, experiment, and innovate.
Unlike traditional games, Moonbase Y is designed to immerse players in realistic scenarios inspired by NASA’s Moon to Mars efforts. Players will explore lunar environments, collaborate in teams, and tackle real-world engineering and operational challenges—building skills in critical thinking, leadership, and systems design along the way.
All content developed through the collaboration will be made freely available online and featured in community-driven events such as game jams and esports competitions, expanding access to space education far beyond the classroom.
"We’re thrilled to partner with NASA to bring real space challenges into a format that millions of young people already love—games. Moonbase Y turns players into problem-solvers, giving them a chance to engage directly with the kinds of challenges that will define humanity’s future in space," said Sarah Kneller, Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer of August Interactive. "By making this experience accessible and grounded in real science, we hope to inspire a new generation to see themselves as engineers, explorers, and innovators."
- Sarah Kneller, Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer of August Interactive
August Interactive’s goal is to reach new audiences and inspire the future space workforce. By combining NASA’s technical expertise with the power of interactive media, the partnership opens the door for global participation in space innovation.
August Interactive is a Seattle-based, woman-owned studio building games and platforms designed to improve the lives of one billion people globally. By combining immersive gameplay with real-world challenges, the company connects players to science, technology, and human-impact missions in ways that are engaging, accessible, and meaningful. Learn more at augustinteractive.gg.
NASA will send astronauts on increasingly difficult missions to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build on the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars. NASA’s Moon Base effort is a bold undertaking to establish the first sustained human presence on the Moon. Beginning with robotic missions, cargo landings, and technology demonstrations, the outpost will be built in phases, progressing toward semi-permanent infrastructure, and ultimately continuous human presence to enable further Artemis exploration. This step-by-step approach allows NASA and its partners to learn, improve, and build capability over time while delivering steady progress toward a lasting future on the Moon. Located near the lunar South Pole, the Moon Base will transform from a destination for short visits into a home base on the lunar surface where Artemis astronauts can live, work, conduct science, and help lay the groundwork for future missions to Mars and beyond.
NASA’s Moon Base efforts involve a series of missions to foster scientific discoveries and a long-term presence on the lunar South Pole, which will serve as a proving ground for Mars. NASA works with partners across industry, academia, and the public to develop technologies that support the agency’s most ambitious missions, including returning humans to the Moon and preparing for deep space missions.
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