The International Spaceflight Museum (ISM) in Second Life is pleased to announce the Grand Opening of Spaceport Bravo, companion to Spaceport Alpha and enhancing the existing displays with highly detailed exhibits of the Apollo Lunar Excursion Module (LEM), the Space Shuttle, new rockets and a full-size version of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) - the world's third largest building (by volume). The VAB, built by NASA to construct the Saturn V, stands 184 metres high and contains an interior volume of 3.66 million cubic metres, all of which have been duplicated in Second Life.
To celebrate the Grand Opening, the ISM will host a week long celebration beginning on May 5th 2007 starting with the official opening, and a celebration of the 46th anniversary of Alan Shepherd's historic flight into space aboard the Freedom 7 spacecraft (see above). This week-long celebration will include the unveiling of many new exhibits, lectures, demonstrations, rocket launches and dancing.
Lectures will include special lectures by Prospero Frobozz ( Dr. Robert A. Knop Jr. in real life) entitled "The Power of the Dark Side : How we know that the Universe is filled with Dark Matter and Dark Energy"; Troy McLuhan, ISM Director, who will tell the story of Alan Shepherd; Kat Lemieux, ISM President, who will speak on the History of the ISM; and Patio Plasma, Director of the Splo Museum in Second Life and Planetary Physicist in real life, who will give a presentation titled "Roving Mars: What is it like to be on the surface of the red planet?".
In addition to formal lectures, ISM builders will be on hand to unveil their new exhibits along with conducting information chats, tours and question and answer sessions. Throughout the week there will be an entertainment venue on Second Life's largest dance floor (the roof of the Vehicle Assembly Building), Rocket Launches and Fireworks. In addition, visitors will receive a gift bag of special gifts including a commemorative model of the Freedom 7 Spacecraft, a T-shirt and other goodies.
A full schedule of events can be found at the slispaceflightmuseum.org site and the sim is already open to the public.
1. Hi Eloise - Thanks for posting our announcement about the opening of the ISM's second sim. The museum is an all-volunteer effort by enthusiasts from around the world, so we really appreciate any media coverage.
- Troy McLuhan
Posted at 12:04PM on Apr 29th 2007 by Troy McLuhan