A Model of Space Operator Training Motivation Using Serious Games

Services provided by spacecraft, including communications and global positioning, are integral to small businesses, multinational corporations, and the United States Department of Defense. United States rivals recognize the advantage provided by the space domain and are exploring ways to degrade these services in their warfare doctrine. In response, the United States requires space systems suited to counter these threats and personnel who are trained to respond to the newly contested environment. Training research has shown that trainee characteristics, including motivation, can significantly impact training outcomes. Beyond the training literature, guidelines have been developed for motivating game play which might apply to the development of serious games to support training. This paper reviews the academic literature and written guidelines from each of these domains and proposes a model of motivation to guide development of future interactive training environments for space operator training