SDForum Virtual World Event: Exploring Space Virtually June 23, 2008

Exploring Space Virtually: NASA and the Blue Mars Project
Title: Exploring Space Virtually: NASA and the Blue Mars Project

In January 2008 NASA hosted a forward-looking conference (http://amesevents.arc.nasa.gov/virtual-worlds/) in order to explore future uses of the virtual world space. Part of the vision is to engage the public as real-time participants in NASA's historic moments of exploration in the spirit of "We all get to go". Just as Neil Armstrong's first moon landing was the defining moment for television, it is envisioned that coming NASA historic events will be the defining moment for virtual world technologies.

NASA incorporates virtual world developers and educators as core components of these efforts. Virtual Space Entertainment, Inc. (VSE) will present their project "Blue Mars 2150", a massively multiplayer virtual world (http://www.virtualspaceentertainment.com/). Launching in late 2008, Blue Mars 2150 will be the first high definition, real time virtual world.

The final product will allow millions of people from around the world to experience our return to space as if they were part of the mission crews themselves. Within the virtual venue users will also be able to visit a series of museum exhibits detailing the history of US spaceflight, and climb into all of the manned spacecraft from Gemini up through interplanetary Mars craft prototypes. Visitors will virtually relive the pioneering days of NASA's manned space program by interactively experiencing a select number of these historic missions.

Speaker Bio:
Richard Childers is the CEO of Virtual Space Entertainment and creative lead for Blue Mars 2150 project. http://www.virtualspaceentertainment.com/

For over twenty-five years, Richard has led digital production teams, producing animation, interactive CD ROMs, software, games, web sites, and books.

Free to SDForum Members; $15.00 for non-members.

Official Website: http://www.sdforum.org/VWSIG