iReport.com: See more photos from Explorer Island and and the event >>
NASA’s JPL sim “Explorer Island” was full to capacity this sunday as space exploration enthusiasts gathered for the final hours of the Mars Odyssey/Phoenix Lander reaching Mars and preparing for the deployment and landing of the Phoenix Lander. Explorer Island is JPL’s gateway for Second Life residents to experience space exploration and education as well as keep up to date on current space exploration events, JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)style.

This is an impressive sim to say the least. The sim landing point alone has hours worth of sights to explore and interactive content. Stationed in Orbit at roughly 350 meters is the Magellan Probe experience (photos included) with information about the history of the Magellan missions. In orbit much higher at 650 meters is the Victoria Station Visitors Center at the Mars Victoria Crater site (photos included). Here you will be awed by the experience of going “into” the Victoria Crater on Mars. For the best experience, your draw distance should be set to max for that “I’m on Mars” feeling. Victoria Station Visitor Center also has images and experiences for the Viking missions to Mars, and so much more on Explorer island about the history of space exploration.

Today was a special day for many at NASA, JPL, University of Arizona and Second Life residents and space enthusiasts. Phoenix Lander - Landed on Mars polar region at 4:53pm PDT (May, 25th, 200 carried to and deployed by the Mars Odyssey Orbiter which made the 422-million-mile flight at roughly 60,000mph from Earth to Mars after launching on Aug. 4, 2007, in about 7000 hours. The landing, delayed by only 7 seconds but within normal landing times, put the Phoenix Lander at the furthest side of the landing zone. The Phoenix Lander landed almost perfectly flat and level and being less than a 1/4 of a degree off vertical center, is considered a perfect landing.

Pictures were received at the University Arizona Science Center almost exactly 2 hours after landing and transmitted to the JPL Mission control at the California Institute of Technology shortly after to an elated science team (photos included). The data (telemetry) takes 15 minutes to reach earth at the speed of light making remote control of the flight and landing impossible. Onboard programs provide all the necessary instructions for a successful flight and landing with the exception that course corrections can be sent from earth during flight if need be.

The Flight Operations team had been dismissed only minutes earlier when the Surface Operations team had taken over and prepared for the first photos to reach earth. The first photos were scheduled to be of the deployment of the solar collection array that will start charging the landers batteries for use by the onboard equipment. The second photo would be of Phoenix landing pads and the surrounding mars ground around them followed by photos of the horizon. Mars Lunar rovers have been present on the planet for going on 4 years. Past missions to Mars: Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Pathfinder (first landing rover) and 30 years ago the Viking Missions to mars Viking 1, launched on 20 August 1975, and Viking 2, launched on 9 September 1975. Each spacecraft consisted of an orbiter and a lander. (no rovers at that time) Mission teams: NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.; Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver; and the University of Arizona, Tucson.

This was the first successful Mars landing without airbags since Viking 2 in 1976. Another critical deployment will be the first use of the 7.7-foot-long robotic arm on Phoenix, which will not be attempted for at least two days. Researchers will use the arm during future weeks to get samples of soil and ice into laboratory instruments on the lander deck. Images: Courtesy NASA/JPL-Calech/University of Arizona (more images available at http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/images.php?gID=0&cID=7) Links: Phoenix Mars Mission - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/main/index.html Phoenix Mars Lander Blog - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/blogs/index.html This is Rocket Flasheart reporting for CNN in Second Life.
Posted by Rocket Flasheart

iReport.com: Watch the video >>
The renowned Second Life artist Ravenelle Zugzwang has been exploring machinima in Second Life, and along the way she has created a visual buffet of 19 video shorts, a series revolving around Ducky. These shorts are being very well received by the Second Life community. You may find them either on Flikr or on YouTube. All but one run under one minute thirty seconds in length. Most of them also highlight a creator or location to check out in Second Life. The Ducky series quickly spoils your senses with color, movement and sound. Who is this Duck that is not a Duck? http://www.youtube.com/user/Ravenellea
Posted by Ravenelle Zugzwang

Members of Myst Online Explorer were having fun on SL. A movie and costume event was held over at Eder Je’ffe Drive-in. As you can see from the photo the contestants were dressing up as food which was the theme of the event. However, a few of the contestants were goofing off dressed up as: trashcan and dinosaur fossil. All fun and games.
Posted by Earadride Callisto

Three Second Life entrepreneurs, ATown Fall, Phelan James and Niki Wilder, have announced an ambitious new project that will include what could be the largest watersports development in Second Life. According to the Second Life surfing blog SurfWatch the new mega-estate or ‘continent’ called the Broadwater Antilles looks set to become a powerful force in Second Life diving, sailing, surfing and other watersports. The group of sim estates, currently includes TCH Estates, Wilder Estates and Hedonism Estates. The estates will be linked together by a large collection of open space ocean sims landscaped and ’seascaped’ especially for watersports and other leisure activities. Photo: Barbuda, one of Broadwater Antilles surfing sims.

Please contact me by email or inworld if you would like any more info. Thanks Barchan
Posted by Barchan Paderborn

iReport.com: Watch video of the performance
Phorkyad Acropolis Greek Theater (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cookie/59/28/33) Director Phoryad Acropolis (right) looks on as Tiresias Messenger dances to honor Dionysus in the upcoming SL theatre production of Euripides’ THE BACCHAE. As imagined for SL by Acropolis, the show has dancing, godlike powers, and of course cross-dressing! The show also features familiar names from SL theatre as well as some newcomers. For more info, see: http://musofyr.com/bacchae.html. Seating will be limited for each showing. The performance dates and times are SAT, May 3; 3pm SL time SUN, June 1; 3pm SL time WED, June 4; 5pm SL time SAT, June 7; 3pm SL time
Visit Cookie (25, 28, 21)
Posted by Phorkyad Acropolis

THE HUMAN CHESS GAME
The story of theChessGame dates back to 1454 when Marostica belonged to the Venetian Republic, when two noblemen, Rinaldo d’Angarano e Vieri da Vallonara, fell in love with the beautiful Lionora, daughter of the Lord of Marostica’s castle. Following the habit at that time, they defied each other to a duel:the winner would have married Lionora.. The Lord forbade the duel in conformity with Venetian Law and he ordered that the two rivals had to play and win a chess game in order to marry Lionora. The game played through a living army, carrying the noble insignia of Withes and Blacks had to take place on the square in front of the Lower Castle on a festival day at the presence of the Lord, his noble daugther, the Lords of Angarano and Vallonara, the noble court and the whole population. The Lord decided that the challenge had to be honoured by an exibition of armed men, foot-soldiers and knights, with fireworks and dances and sounds that came together with the herold, the archers and halberdiers, the Lord and his noble court, Lionora, her faithful nurse, noblemen,the masters of arms, falconers, pageboys, maidens, standard holders, musicians, farmer, the Whites and Blacks with their kings and queens, rooks and knights, bishops and pawn, all moved by the two noblemen… The owner of the Castle enlightened this scene through whitelight and awesome fireworks, so that everybody could share the joy and the fun. At Marostica this event takes place every two years as the first time, in a framework of sumptuous costumes and martial parades of exquisite elegance. A note of unique courtesy pervades everything; it inspires the whole re-evocation of this ancient story which, from the darkness of remote times, still lives today as a miracle of fantasy. The orders are still given to characters through the dialect of the “Serenissima Republic of Venezia”: 550walk on actors participate to this event lasting about 2 hours. The Human Chess Game will be played on the square of Marostica every second Friday, Saturday and Sunday of September This tradiction has been a source of ispiration for Italia Vera builders who accurately replicated the awesome place and its well-known chessboard. The owners of Italia Vera desire that Marostica SL becomes a centre of social gathering for inworld chess passionates and why not, a sort of promotion for Marostica in real life among cosmopolitan second livers. In these days a tournament starts up : it will end on may 24th, the day of the final Game,whose prize won’t be the heart of a lovely dame but a virtual trophy, as the best Chess player in second life. As the cool lord of Marostica, who loved both non violence and fun, Italia Vera’s staff is working for a memorable day of celebration, and they hope that a lot of avatars will be there! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Friuli/162/191/301
Posted by Simona Dawes

Pictured: The fireworks display that kicked off the Feynman’s 90th Birthday Bash.

SciArt Media holds 90th Birthday Bash and Science Conference for Richard Feynman This weekend, May 10th and 11th, SciArt Media is holding a two-day astronomy and physics conference to celebrate both National Astronomy Day Saturday, as well as a 90th birthday celebration for the late Richard Feynman. The real-life company with an office in Second Life is presenting speakers, a plenary session and a fireworks display to celebrate the occasion. Free Feynman T-Shirts are also available throughout the center. The weekend will feature George Djorgovski of CalTech, talking about the makeup of the Universe, as well as Gus Rosania of the American Chemical Society leading students on an “Amazing Journey” through the human body, like that dreamt up by Isaac Asimov. Admission to the event is free. SL URL re-direct is: http://secondlife.sciartmedia.com. More info at: http://www.sciartmedia.com/Dicks90th.
Submitted by Sciartmedia Sands