Metaverse: The Most Expensive Smoke Screen Ever – Meta’s AI Gamble
- I mean the company that is now called Meta, but at that time still bore the name of its flagship product.Profits were falling, the facebook Papers case...
- He introduced "the next big thing." Metaverse - a platform combining a social network, virtual and augmented reality and a number of other technologies.
- The Artemis Program is a United States-led international human spaceflight program with the goal of returning humans to the Moon, specifically the lunar south pole, by 2026.
In 2021, Facebook was in crisis. I mean the company that is now called Meta, but at that time still bore the name of its flagship product.Profits were falling, the facebook Papers case shook the empire,Zuck was coming to testify in the Senate,whistleblowers reported that money came first in the company and it went after it without respect for laws or moral principles. Profits and stock prices also fell – from a former peak to $380 to below $90.
So Mark Zuckerberg prepared an epochal change. He introduced “the next big thing.” Metaverse - a platform combining a social network, virtual and augmented reality and a number of other technologies. Every user was to be represented by a 3D avatar, everyone was to live, work, meet, communicate, have fun and, of course, also shop in the virtual world. it was to be such a essential change that Zuck renamed the company to Meta according to it.
What is the Artemis Program?
Table of Contents
The Artemis Program is a United States-led international human spaceflight program with the goal of returning humans to the Moon, specifically the lunar south pole, by 2026.
Initiated in 2017 under the Trump administration and continued with increased funding under the Biden administration, Artemis aims to establish a lasting human presence on the Moon as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars. The program is managed by NASA and involves collaborations with international partners, including the European Space Agency (ESA), the japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). It builds upon the legacy of the apollo program, but with a focus on long-term exploration and resource utilization.
On December 11,2023,NASA announced the selection of Axiom space to develop commercial space stations,including lunar surface habitats,as part of the Artemis program. source: NASA
What are the key phases of the Artemis Program?
The Artemis Program is structured around a series of missions, currently planned in phases, beginning with uncrewed test flights and culminating in sustained lunar presence.
- Artemis 1 (Completed November-December 2022): An uncrewed flight test of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, orbiting the Moon and returning to Earth.
- Artemis 2 (Planned for September 2025): A crewed flyby of the Moon, testing OrionS life support systems with a four-person crew.
- artemis 3 (Planned for 2026): The first crewed landing near the lunar south pole, aiming to include the first woman and person of color on the Moon.
- Artemis 4 and Beyond: Continued missions to establish a long-term lunar base, known as Artemis Base Camp, and develop technologies for future Mars missions.
These phases are subject to change based on technical progress and budgetary considerations. The program’s long-term vision includes establishing a permanent base and utilizing lunar resources, such as water ice, for propellant and life support.
NASA’s Artemis program page details the current mission schedule and objectives.
What is the Space Launch System (SLS)?
The Space Launch System (SLS) is a super heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by NASA to send astronauts and large payloads to the moon, Mars, and beyond.
SLS is the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built, exceeding the capabilities of the Saturn V rocket used during the Apollo program. It utilizes both solid rocket boosters and liquid-fueled core stages. Different configurations of SLS are planned, with increasing lift capacity for future missions. The Block 1 configuration, used for Artemis 1, can lift over 95 metric tons (209,000 pounds) to low Earth orbit.
The first SLS launch, Artemis 1, occurred on November 16, 2022, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Source: NASA Artemis 1 Mission Overview. The total cost of the SLS program through 2023 was approximately $23.8 billion, according to a report by the Office of Inspector General. Source: NASA OIG Report IG-24-001
What is the Orion spacecraft?
The Orion spacecraft is a crew capsule designed by NASA to carry astronauts to destinations beyond low Earth orbit,including the Moon and eventually Mars.
Orion is designed to support crews of up to four astronauts for missions lasting up to 21 days. It consists of a Crew Module and a European Service Module (ESM) provided by the European Space Agency. The ESM provides propulsion, power, thermal control, and life support. Orion is designed for deep-space travel and incorporates advanced safety features, including a heat shield capable of withstanding extreme temperatures during re-entry.
The Orion spacecraft successfully completed its first uncrewed flight test, Artemis 1, in December 2022, demonstrating its capabilities for deep-space exploration. The heat shield withstood temperatures of approximately 2,760 degrees Celsius (5,000 degrees Fahrenheit) during re-entry. Source: NASA feature Article on Orion Heat Shield
What are the goals of establishing a lunar base?
Establishing a sustained lunar presence,through Artemis Base Camp,aims to advance scientific discovery,develop new technologies,and prepare for future human missions to Mars.
A lunar base will allow for long-duration studies of the moon’s geology, environment