NASA Collaborates With Epic Games To Create A Mars Metaverse

NASA develops the planetary metaverse of Mars. (NASA)

JAKARTA – The United States National Space Agency, NASA, is reportedly in a partnership with the developer of the popular game Fortnite, Epic Games. The collaboration is aimed at developing a simulation of the planet Mars in a metaverse version.

Later the two sides will also design several key environments for Mars astronauts. Reportedly the effort will be rendered using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5 to make the Martian environment look more realistic, according to Bitcoin.com News.

Additionally, the effort is aimed at filling an even earlier metaverse, MarsXR. By leveraging Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5, we have now managed to map 400 sq km of the Martian terrain, complete with a more realistic day-night cycle.

"Virtual Reality (XR) for use by NASA in research focused on extravehicular activity on the Martian surface," NASA wrote on the Herox platform.

MarsXR initiated by NASA and Epic Games will provide the first virtual experience of the planetary environment of Mars. MarsXR will be used for scientific research purposes, exploration, maintenance, and so on.

To support the development of the Mars metaverse, NASA is holding a contest with a prize pool of $70,000 for twenty people. Where they will participate in MarsXR for various purposes.

Herox reports that the funding has prompted many groups to contribute to the development of NASA's Mars metaverse. Within 24 hours, 237 innovators have contributed to the development of the Mars simulation. This will help NASA to cut costs for training astronauts for Mars missions.