The online game, challenges a player's knowledge of the space programme with multiple-choice questions. Players have a choice of competing with others or playing by themselves.

The players will have to choose an avatar, and then compete against two other players to see who can get the most points. Winners earn achievements by collecting badges.

The overall goal of the game is to provide more public outreach for NASA and to test people's knowledge about science, the space program, and pop culture.

"Space Race Blastoff opens Nasa's history and research to a wide new audience of people accustomed to using social media," David Weaver, a Nasa spokesman, said in a statement.

"Space experts and novices will learn new things about how exploration continues to impact our world," he added.

It was a good move for NASA to adopt Facebook, Twitter and other social networking tools quickly.