Space simulations galore

H. T. Hamsterbaffle, Fontburg, MO — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 02:40:53 GMT

How could you not mention Celestia? It's open source, free, and simulates the entire Solar system plus hundreds of thousands of nearby stars in the milky way. You can speed up time, view the universe from any angle, or even "fly" about as if you have a hyperdrive starship. It's like Google Earth for the Universe, with lots of community-created content.

Space simulations galore

Seadog, Dallas, TX — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 02:56:18 GMT

What Earth really needs is Sims On The Moon, On Mars, whatever, governed by real world human existence parameters. Then the practical impossibilities of having a worthwhile life off this planet would clearly become apparent. Exploration for the sake of gaining scientific knowledge is wonderful, and should be done, but no human will ever wander an apple orchard on Mars or vacation at the seaside there, or even breathe the atmosphere. Let alone on the Moon. There is a fantasy avoidance of this reality behind the momentum for exploration, when exploration is sufficient in itself to justify the space program. Just ponder trying to raise a family, let alone a civilization, on Mars, and you'll get the message. This planet is not our best hope, it is our only hope. Virtual reality programs like those I posit would heighten our sense of responsibility for the planet on which we exist and highlight the doom implicit in over-breeding the animal that most threatens the planet's limited resources. Us.

Space simulations galore

Gaetano Marano - Italy — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 04:44:57 GMT

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over 1.5 year ago I've suggested the (criticized) "VME", a low cost (alternative) "Vision" for Moon(rovers) Exploration":

http://www.gaetanomarano.it/
moonrovers/moonrovers.html

but now China has unveiled its plan to land soon (in 2012) on the moon the first "3-D view" moonrover:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/
2007-04/02/content_5923351.htm

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/
CHINA_MOON_MISSION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

this is the image of the rover's prototype:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-
04/02/xinsrc_0420404021118546135542.jpg

and, since China already IS (and will be more in future) the country able to mix high technology and low costs at their extreme level, we can expect to see HUNDREDS low cost "made in China" moonrovers landing and running around on the moon (exploring the ENTIRE moon surface, as suggested in my VME article)

maybe... the NASA/ESA/RSA/Japan/etc. manned-moon-missions' plans will just remain "virtual" ... ?

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Space simulations galore

Doug Bassett, Pleasant Grove, UT — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 04:51:21 GMT

Second Life does have a dark side, but so does first life. As far as space goes, you should check out the museum of space. There you can see life-sized rockets from NASA, as well as Russia, China, and others. There is an Apollo lunar lander and a wide variety of things to explore. Some new people only see the bright glare of casinos and strip clubs, but SL has a rich variety of offerings from a room that simulates schizophrenia to a building that lets you diagnose heart disease to a mock up of ancient Rome, Artificial Life simulators to giant ships and space craft. Saying SL is nothing but foul and horrid is like saying the library is nothing but romance novels. If you get your references from an adult humor site, somethingawful, chances are you will only find those things that are awful. Instead. look around a bit more. Use the search functionality, and you will be amazed!

Space simulations galore

David McLennan — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 01:43:49 GMT

I strongly recommend Orbiter - particularly to any flight simulator buff.

Home Page:
http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/orbit.html

Space simulations galore

lisa sanchez, tucson, arizona — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 23:22:30 GMT

I love outerspace, I would like to learn more.

Space simulations galore

Maelstrom Baphomet — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 08:12:13 GMT

From the perspective of artists, Second Life is a huge opportunity. The depositories of creative talent on that simulator are as vast as the imagination. I am not affiliated with Linden Labs, though amusingly as much as I push this game some might think I am. Any venue is what you make of it. People bashed video games, then found you could use them for education and that they actually heightened some senses such as with hand-eye co-ordination. I doubt anyone will have much trouble teaching their children to type in this day and age. In fact, I predict we will slowly see typing classes phased out of high schools because the students now teach themselves out of a different motivation.

It's easy to critique when you don't count the positives.

Space simulations galore

Tharn, Tacoma, Washington — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 07:53:22 GMT

"Then the practical impossibilities of having a worthwhile life off this planet would clearly become apparent."

No life off this planet, ever, will doom the entire species. There are plenty of achievable concepts as to how to make life decent beyond earth. And we'll have to.