NEW YORK CITY, N.Y., February 10, 2016 -- Xtronaut Enterprises, Inc. launches its unique card-based board game about real space exploration and science at the Toy Fair in New York City. Xtronaut: The Game of Solar System Exploration was designed by Dante Lauretta, Leader of the NASA OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission and University of Arizona Professor, combining his expertise in space mission planning and technology with his passion for strategy gaming.
The Game combines the real-world thrill and challenges of planetary exploration to give 2-4 players ages 7 and up the chance to develop space missions and explore the solar system.
Lauretta commented, "Our game makes exploring the Solar System fun, and helps us connect to a broader audience to the incredible missions of planetary exploration."
Xtronaut was developed through a successful Kickstarter campaign, which achieved over 250 percent of its target fundraising and was awarded a "Staff Pick" on Kickstarter. The Game has also earned endorsements from groups that include Planetary Resources, the Planetary Society, and the United Launch Alliance.
Mike Lyon, the Xtronaut CEO, commented, "Xtronaut is the kind of game parents and teachers will love, combining exciting space missions with science, engineering, project management, and negotiation learning opportunities. Kids will love it because it's so much fun!"
Please come by our booth 6414 to see our game and meet Dr. Lauretta. The Xtronaut booth will also feature a special meteorite collection on display -- come hold a real meteorite!
About Xtronaut Enterprises:
In 2011, NASA selected the Asteroid Sample Return Mission, OSIRIS-REx – a $1 billion mission to send a robotic spacecraft to an asteroid named “Bennu”, collect a sample of the asteroid, and return the sample to Earth. Mission leader Dante Lauretta and space entrepreneur Michael Lyon founded Xtronaut Enterprises to develop innovative educational and entertainment programs associated with OSIRIS-REx and space exploration. Xtronaut was formed to encourage interest and support for space exploration by expanding the notion of who is an explorer in today's world of robotic missions -- to include all the people involved in exploration -- scientists, engineers, educators, students, and the public as a whole -- not just the few fortunate enough to climb into a rocket. The expanded idea of these explorers -- Xtronauts -- includes the group that designs components and instruments, develops the software, launches the rockets, operates the vehicles, performs experiments, manages the programs, conducts research, participates in the related science, or simply appreciates the beauty of the universe revealed by the probes.