MISSION CONTROL IS YOURS
FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION
Two astronauts. A damaged spacecraft.
The next call is yours.
Gemini VIII · Play in your browser
01 / ABOUT THE GAME
History sets the scene. Your decisions shape what follows.
Take the flight director’s seat in a narrative game inspired by real missions and the people who made them possible.
You are Glen Kurtz: a fictional tribute to the legendary Gene Kranz, whose leadership helped guide Mission Control through pivotal moments of Gemini and Apollo. The signature vest is a nod to Kranz; Glen’s story is his own. Ageless by design, he represents generations of flight directors, from the earliest missions to those still ahead.
Listen to your controllers. Weigh incomplete information. Make the call, then live with its consequences. Follow the historical path or branch into an alternate outcome. The astronauts are real; the decisions and consequences blend documented events with clearly identified fiction.
Read the room.
Your controllers see different risks. Ask questions and work through the evidence before you commit.
Make the call.
Getting the crew home means weighing time in orbit against the conditions awaiting them at sea.
Carry the consequences.
Your preparations and orders affect the return. Your response afterward shapes relationships and the next planning step.
THE PLAYABLE DEMO
GEMINI VIII The Weight of the Call
A historic docking. A sudden emergency. Armstrong and Scott have brought their spacecraft back under control. Now your team must bring them home.
Prepare your controllers, weigh competing return risks, and face the consequences of your decision in the post-flight discussion.
TAKE YOUR SEATA historical mission with fictional return decisions and alternate outcomes.
02 / INSIDE MISSION CONTROL
A seat in the room.
Captured from the playable build.
Select a frame to take a closer look.
BEYOND THE DEMO
FULL GAME COMING SOON
A larger story is taking shape. For now, your seat is waiting in Gemini VIII.
03 / ABOUT THE DEV
A lifelong dream.
A new trajectory.
I’m Dan Lee-Odinson, a Technical Project Manager and Space Studies student at Everglades University.
My fascination with space began when I was six, holding my breath as Discovery’s STS-26 crew launched on the historic Return to Flight after the Challenger disaster. Watching Artemis II lift off in April 2026 turned that lifelong passion into a determination to be part of what comes next.
Since then, I’ve been working toward one goal: to learn everything I can and bring my skills to a future career in Mission Operations and Program Management.
I’m inspired by the people of NASA and the space agencies and companies around the world expanding what humanity can do in space—and by the dedication of everyone on the ground who makes those journeys possible.
This game is my tribute to you all.
04 / THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE MISSION
Made as a tribute.
To the men and women of NASA, whose bravery, sacrifice, and vision embody the best of humanity.
To those who journeyed beyond our world, and to all whose work made those journeys possible.
Independent project
Failure is Not an Option is an independent homage to NASA and the people of the space program, created for appreciation and exploration, not for profit. It is not affiliated with, authorized, sponsored, or endorsed by NASA.
Inspired by real missions and people, this game includes fictional dialogue, simplified systems, and alternate historical outcomes. These elements do not represent the actual words, beliefs, or actions of the people portrayed. NASA is not responsible for the game's interpretations, generated content, or accuracy.
NASA marks & generated artwork
Failure is Not an Option is not sponsored, endorsed, or authorized by NASA. We seek to respectfully follow NASA’s published media and brand guidelines, including its restrictions on NASA insignia, logotypes, and seals appearing with AI-generated imagery. The game uses an original fictional emblem for its generated artwork and branding.
NASA marks visible in authentic photographs or archival footage remain part of their original real-world context and do not imply NASA sponsorship or endorsement.
AI disclosure
This project was created using generative AI within a human-in-the-loop process, with human creative direction, review, and final decision-making.
Open-source statement
The project is open source. The code is released under the MIT License and the original game content under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International; the full terms are in LICENSE and LICENSE-CONTENT in the repository. Third-party materials — NASA and National Archives imagery and film, the Freesound sounds and the typefaces — are not covered by those licences and remain under their own credits and terms.