NASA Offers $70,000 Prize for the Best 'Immersive, Engaging And Realistic' Martian Metaverse Design

NASA wants you if you're a programmer who wants to try your hand at developing a Martian metaverse. For a hefty reward of $70,000, the space agency is searching for bold and inventive developers who can create the most fantastic design of the epic Martian Metaverse.

Astronauts on Mars — A couple of astronauts in spacesuits during a training mission for planet Mars at a site that simulates an off-site station at the Ramon Crater in Mitzpe Ramon in Israel's southern Negev desert. JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

NASA is Looking for Developers to Make Martian Metaverse

The US space agency issued a request for help earlier this month. NASA partnered with virtual reality simulation developer Buendea and Fortnite creator Epic Games to create "a new virtual reality research, development, and testing environment to help prepare for the experiences and situations that will be encountered on Mars."

"The goal is to create an immersive, engaging, and realistic experience," NASA wrote about the program.

NASA, Buenda, and Fortnite have announced that developers are needed to present solutions in five categories: building up camp, scientific research, maintenance, exploration, and "blowing our minds."

According to the space agency, the $70,000 reward will be divided among 20 categories. Each category's overall winner will get $6,000. The deadline for entries is July 26.

A virtual simulation of Mars has already been created mainly by both businesses.
Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5, a platform used by businesses to host interactive experiences and virtual reality settings, is being utilized to create the virtual 'operations support system' world.

Just launched: create VR simulations of Mars exploration to inform @NASA technologies and informatics. This #crowdsourcing challenge will award $70K in prizes to the top entries across 5 scenario categories. Don’t miss out! https://t.co/MpNIsMbDH1 pic.twitter.com/IANihyIwvr
— HeroX (@Iamherox) May 5, 2022

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Fortune said the groups behind the program have already created a virtual representation of Mars. It has accurate weather, Martian gravity, 154 square miles of authentic Mars topography, and entire Martian days with "orange colors of day changing to blue at night."

Why Martian Metaverse Matters

Martian metaverse might be valuable in preparing people for expeditions to Mars, which could be coming soon, Daily Mail reported.

NASA has previously stated that after landing on the Moon, it wants to launch a manned expedition to Mars in the 2030s.

In May 2017, NASA's deputy associate administrator for strategy and programs, Greg Williams, revealed the space agency's four-stage plan for sending people to Mars, including the projected timeline.

Multiple journeys to lunar space will be made in phases one and two to enable the development of a habitat that will serve as a staging point for the mission.

The actual Deep Space Transport vehicle, which would eventually be utilized to transport a crew to Mars, would be the last piece of gear delivered.

In 2027, a year-long simulation of life on Mars will take place. After 2030, phase three and four will commence, involving long-term personnel excursions to the Martian system and surface.