Second Life takes you to the moon (almost)
by Tateru Nino 
May 18th 2009 at 11:00AM
Filed under: Opinion, Second Life, Virtual worlds
Tucked away on one side of the Space Frontier Sandbox in Second Life is a reproduction Saturn V , apparently to scale, at rest on the launch-pad and serviced by the customary gantry. The individual pieces are made by different Second Life users, but the combined work is that of one Wicked Quasimodo, who has turned it into a very authentic-seeming launch, flight and (eventually) moon-landing simulation.
A HUD object provided on the launch pad provides all the NASA ambience that you'd expect from a detailed simulation. While still a work-in-progress, and with a few little glitches, it remains a very atmospheric experience.
The launch takes place at almost exactly 32 minutes after the hour every hour, but there are only a few seats inside the crew capsule, so you'll want to be a little early (the gantry begins retracting at about 27 minutes past). Definitely grab the HUD -- the audio from the Apollo 11 mission really adds to the experience.
Once you're sitting, let the simulation handle your camera (just hit the escape key a few times), and it will furnish you with some decent views. Don't be in any rush, however. The simulation takes a while (though not nearly as long as the real thing). Being that it's still under construction, you'll see a bit of scaffolding and some work platforms in the simulation, but don't let that bother you.
In its current state, it only seems to go as far as docking with the Lunar Excursion Module, but it's still definitely something to see.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ethereal.wolf said on 1:10PM 5-18-2009
hrmm. wonder if the vaguely phallic shape of the saturn V will get it exiled to ursula. XD
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ArminasX said on 2:21PM 5-18-2009
More pictures and comments on Second Effects here: http://www.secondeffects.com/2009/05/to-moon-almost.html and http://www.secondeffects.com/2009/05/back-to-moon.html
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mysecretid said on 7:41PM 5-18-2009
If they get the moon landing happening, I might actually be moved to try the Second Life "game".
Without sarcasm, I say: it's really nice to see something major coming out of SL which doesn't, in some way, revolve around the digital sex trade.
I mean, why would I pay $15/month for fake online sex with men pretending to be women in SL, when I can have actual sex with a genuine woman in real life, all for free? :-)
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Stacie Sixpence said on 9:14PM 5-18-2009
First of all unless you decide to go premium SL is free, if you do decide to go premium SL only costs 10 per month. And there is much more to do then Sex in SL, I usually spend my time Neo Realms fishing, and exploring.
Conquests said on 10:22PM 5-18-2009
Unbelievable.
Compared to these guys' ideas on virtuality, WoW feels as little as Pong... just a child's game.
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Jay said on 11:28PM 5-18-2009
Gratz Tateru on this article, I hope there are many like it to follow, highlights that show the wonderful things in SL. I still remember being a sperm inside a HUGE testicle. That was amazing. I wonder if that simulation is still there.
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Smoothie said on 1:55AM 5-20-2009
HEY! That's SL for you. (A child game or a Virtual Sex simulation!!!)???
Well I prefer my SL that's studing new technologies, working for my company in a 3D enviroment, meeting interesting ppl around the globe, making friends, colaborate, creating content any kind from gestures too whole SIM building projects and enjoying reading and viewing creations of other "healthy" thinking residents.
Your SL? keep it for youself.
After all SL is just like RL you getting just that you deserve ;)
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kanomi said on 2:35AM 5-20-2009
NASA should have a program where they take your avatar in space. How many bytes would it take? Not many - it might be a neat way to drum up interest in the cyber media space.
"Look at me, I'm Kanomi, I'm a-twitterin' from the space station!"
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