Draw & Code are proud to announce our latest project – Mission: Sketch for NASA’s Space Center Houston. This is a press release introducing our role in this exciting immersive installation at the famed attraction.
Liverpool, UK – June 2025 – Mission: Sketch, a groundbreaking permanent exhibit at Space Center Houston, the official visitor’s center of NASA Johnson Space Center, takes young explorers on an interactive journey through the solar system. Created by UK immersive technology studio Draw & Code, this innovative experience invites visitors to design and personalise their own spacecraft, which are then launched on a virtual voyage to celestial destinations including The Moon, Mars, Titan, and Europa.
Mission: Sketch merges creativity with technology, allowing visitors to colour one of four spaceship designs before scanning their creations and watching them come to life on screen then launch across a massive projected wall depicting an animated solar system. As the rockets blast off, the room comes alive with immersive 4D effects — a realistic physical model of rocket engines glows, the floor rumbles as the sound of the engines plays, and visitors experience the thrill of the launch that is seen across multiple screens including a giant projection wall.
After being completing a soft launch phase, Mission: Sketch is fully open to the public, marking the first step in Space Center Houston’s broader initiative to enhance the visitor experience for younger audiences. This revitalisation is driven by the desire to provide greater immersion, interaction, and personal agency to a new generation eager for hands-on learning.
“Mission: Sketch allows guests to personalize their spacecraft, have a hero moment with a unique rocket launch and a shared moment of awe as multiple missions travel across our solar system,” said Jeffrey Wyatt, Chief Experience Officer at Space Center Houston. “Draw & Code was a fantastic collaborator to bring forth our vision and goals in this experience.”
Draw & Code, a prolific creative technology studio in the UK, played a pivotal role in bringing this vision to life. They lead spatial and experience design, including 2D and 3D design, software development, and audio design. The project benefited from extensive collaboration with astronauts and other subject matter experts, ensuring a meaningful and educational experience, along with SRO and Generations who helped realise the creative vision as part of the A/V and build team.
“Mission: Sketch is designed to inspire curiosity about why we explore space rather than just how we do it,” said Draw & Code Co-Founder and Creative Director, Andy Cooper. “By highlighting exploration, scientific knowledge, the betterment of life on Earth, and the potential innovation benefits of space travel, we hope to ignite a passion for discovery in young minds.”
The exhibit’s interaction methods — colouring and simple touchscreen commands — were carefully chosen to be accessible and engaging for children. Feedback from the thousands who have already experienced Mission: Sketch during its testing phase is currently being gathered, with early responses indicating an overwhelmingly positive reception.
Andy Cooper adds; “Mission: Sketch is more than an exhibit; it is a testament to the power of imagination and the importance of giving younger generations a voice in the ongoing story of space exploration.”
