The other day as I wandered the Grid, looking for interesting topics to bring our SL Readers, I happened upon a resident named Neuralinks. As luck would have it, it was only about 15 minutes before the launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, of the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission to orbit the earth. She directed me to a link with the live feed of the launch.
I was transfixed.
You see, on February 20, 1962, Astronaut John Glenn made
history as the first American to orbit the earth. I stood on a beach at Cape Canaveral and
watched that flight, along with about 60 million television viewers, as he road
that Redstone rocket in the Mercury capsule Freedom Seven into space, and into
history. Now, some three score years later, I had the privilege of watching
another space shot. This time with a
crew of three more than the Mercury flights. And for three days, vice just the
three orbits, as Glenn had done. WOW!
Talk about a rush!
After the successful conclusion of the Inspiration4 mission,
I met again with Neuralinks, and she graciously agreed to answer a few
questions about SpaceX and related endeavors, for our SL Enquirer readers.
Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) (JB): So tell me, Neuralinks, exactly what is an “Advanced Virtual Expert/Virtual Presence in Second Life/MetaLife?”
Neuralinks (N): I am
so excited you asked this question. Let us start by breaking down the
words. Advanced, meaning, ie.,
Experience. Virtual, as in COMPUTING, not physically existing as such
but made by software to appear to do so. Expert due to the experience. A
double positive. Here there are many
platforms available for the human mind to enter and engage with. Second Life is
rare as it has everything a human mind needs to create with. Senn Maximus,
owner of Builders Brewery sandbox, a full sim dedicated to builders, has a
friend who is working on studies and courses for owner builders, home owners
who want to build, or renovate, etc. They are working on utilizing SL. Some
people may just want to visit Paris without leaving their home. Second Life
offers that availability because a resident of that community built it for
others to enjoy. I help educate others
about Second Life and its possibilities.
JB: So, just what is your connection with the National Space Society and The International Space Flight Museum?
N: Many community
members of Second Life enjoy space-related simulations. In Second Life, there
are a few main space-related educational simulations. The two I found are: The National Space Society and The International Space Flight
Museum.
Both of these simulations have been hard at work for years,
building and promoting human space flight. As a one-world species, it is
inevitable that the human species will either die on the planet earth or it can
be space-faring and venture to other planets. As Mr. Elon Musk once wrote:
"Making life multi-planetary is an extremely hard, but not impossible,
problem". The simulations in Second Life give humans an opportunity to
visit the many rockets, information and photos with regards to space that
humans have built in an attempt to leave earth, or have left earth with.
Many of the Second Life Groups have strong connections to
its members. The NSS and International Space Museum pride themselves with
working with their members. Their website is http://ismuseum.org.
They run on donations and all donations
are used toward the operating costs of the museum.
The NSS has an in-world presence of the National Space
Society, an international organization of like-minded people, from the
interested public to grassroots activists to astronauts and space scientists.
National Space Society website: https://space.nss.org
https://space.nss.org/join-national-space-society/
NSS in SL group, free to join: https://world.secondlife.com/group/17a08f4d-3ed6-8ba0-5a6e-91c4218b35cf?lang=en
Their Vision: People living and working in thriving
communities beyond the Earth, and the use of the vast resources of space for the dramatic
betterment of humanity. The National Space Society" sim introduces the
concept of "The Extraterrestrial Plateau" into Second Life, with its
extraterrestrial planetary surface at or above 300 meters altitude. This puts
it above both the clouds and the growth zone found at lower altitudes in Second
Life. In the NSS Sim, the volume beneath the surface is riddled with lava tube
caverns, as are believed to be possible, and considerable evidence exists for
them, on the Moon and Mars.
It is a multiple-level simulation which allows them to
demonstrate at least three stages in development, currently under construction:
Early bases made mostly from prefabs and material brought from Earth;
developing growth including lunar industry supplying many needs; and at the
deepest level in the largest cavern, a fully pressurized volume capable of
holding a small city, complete with running water, plants, open air, and even
clouds and weather.
JB: Last Week SpaceX had a very successful launch of the Inspiration4 Mission. Were the passengers all trained astronauts? Or paying passengers?
Inspiration4 mission was on September 15, 2021 and they
returned on September 18 from orbit.
They left Earth from Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launch Complex 39A,
used during the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing
mission. This most recent mission was to support St. Jude Children’s Research
hospital and be a part of history as the crew raised $200 million to help make
a brighter future for children everywhere. Mr. Elon Musk donated 50 million
dollars to the cause. Inspiration4 is
the world’s first all-civilian mission to orbit the earth. Crew members included:
Jared Isaacman, Commander & Benefactor
Jared is the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments (NYSE:
FOUR), the leader in integrated payment processing solutions. An accomplished
jet pilot, he is rated to fly commercial and military aircraft and holds several
world records including two Speed-Around-The-World flights in 2008 and 2009
that raised money and awareness for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Hayley Arceneaux is Hope
As a child, Hayley suffered from bone cancer. Her family
turned to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for her treatment and care,
which included chemotherapy and a limb-saving surgery. She is now finished with
treatment and thriving. She now works at St. Jude as a PA – the very place that saved her life –
helping leukemia and lymphoma patients.
Chris Sembroski is Generosity
Chris grew up with a natural curiosity about outer space. As a U.S. Space Camp counselor, he conducted
simulated space shuttle missions and supported STEM-based education designed to
inspire young minds to explore these areas and find their passions. Later, he
then served in the U.S. Air Force, deploying for service in Iraq before leaving
active duty in 2007.
Dr. Sian Proctor is Prosperity
Sian is a science communication specialist with a lifelong
passion for space exploration. She was born in Guam while her father was
working at the NASA tracking station during the Apollo missions. She has a TEDx talk called Eat Like a
Martian and published the Meals for Mars Cookbook. Dr. Proctor was a
finalist for the 2009 NASA Astronaut Program.
JB: So, I have a couple days of vacation time coming up at work, and I have been saving up some for it. What would a seat on a SpaceX shot cost me?
N: I think it is
around $50 Million dollars at this time, but as more sponsors come on board,
the costs will go down. Major corporations like Nikon and others can sponsor
events and employees. People can get married, renew vows or what ever they
want. It is just a beginning.
JB: Fifty mil, huh? Maybe I will wait until NEXT year and see if the price drops some. So tell me. What are
visitors likely to see when they visit SpaceX in Second Life?
N: The SpaceX Event
Center and Mars Bar is an anti-Gravity chamber.
An attachment can be worn and you can float around the stimulation and
explore or walk. The NSS has an attachment to walk like you are walking on the
moon. The event center has three levels. The first houses books, photos and a
meeting place to stop by before exploring NSS and The International Flight
Museum.
If you want to spend time at the center, the MARS BAR is
situated on the second floor and music is played by a DJ or the in-house
media. The top floor boasts a Falcon9
and a chair. You can look at the stars, count them and ponder.
JB: I understand
you have the 2021 World Space Week Virtual Event coming up in early
October. What is that all about?
N: The mission of
World Space Week Association (WSWA) is to strengthen the link between space and
society through public education, participation, and dialog on the future of
space activity using World Space Week as a focus. At the recent Space Symposium
in Colorado Springs, SpaceX and others were recognized for their great support
of World Space Week. SL SpaceX Group is
supporting their efforts in Second Life.
Lanai Jarrico, Editor-in-Chief of Second Life Enquirer, is set to
receive an award in Second Life at the World Space Week Celebration Award
ceremony in Second Life on October 9, 3PM SL Time.
So, there you have it, Folks. If you are a resident of Second Life, you probably already have a desire to “explore strange new worlds, to seek out new Lives, and new civilizations. To Boldly go where no avatar has gone before!” (Cue Star Trek theme song). So come’on. Check out World Space Week in Second Life and stretch that imagination with a dose of reality as mankind continues to reach for the heavens.
Be there! Aloha!
JB
For more images of SpaceX, go to: https://www.flickr.com/photos/spacex
SURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/National%20Space%20Society/38/226/3675
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