Space Elevator at Bowness

I took one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind in this quest where I visited and explored the Space Elevator at Bowness. This Second Life virtual space is exactly as it sounds, a bridge between Earth and Space.

Upon entering the Space Elevator, I was immediately impressed by what seemed like a server room. Though I tried to interact with various computers and a luminescent fountain in the middle, my efforts were to no avail.

From here, I went to Level 2. Here, I found various posters educating visitors about efforts to create ecologically sustainable environments and lifestyles. One board posed the question of whether or not buildings could be designed to lessen their ecological footprint. This problem interested me because of its emphasis on coexistence rather than a dichotomous relationship between urbanism and environmentalism. It struck me that the Space Elevator at Bowness Island must be a virtual space to discuss and learn more about environmental issues. I tried clicking on the link to the website included in the quest description, but unfortunately, it was a broken link.

Continuing to explore, I made my way up a spiral ramp to the third level. It was here that I found the entrance to the actual Space Elevator. As anyone left alone in front of a button reading "Do Not Push" would do, I immediately went inside and started looking around to see what I could do. Space exploration sounded like a good adventure to take.

In an expedited version of space travel, I arrived at a landing station that provided incredible views of the cosmos (even for a virtual world). Of course, I raced out of the elevator to see what I could find. Again, curiosity took me through every door that I could pass through until I reached one whose threshold I was not so willing to cross. Who knows what would happen by stepping out into Space without the proper equipment?

Returning to the innermost portion of the station, I took a moment to look out the large windows transcending Earth. One thing in particular caught my eye. It was a satellite orbiting somewhere over Mexico. I was certainly impressed by the attention to realistic detail in this virtual space.

There were no other visitors in The Space Elevator or at Bowness Island, which prohibited me from engaging in any dialogue about the purpose of this space. However, by autonomously exploring the environment myself, I was not only able to expose myself to a very interesting Second Life environment, but gain a deeper appreciation for the possibilities and opportunities afforded to learners by online virtual spaces.