The exhibit marks the 50th anniversary of the last Apollo mission to the moon in 1972.
A new exhibit opening at the Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building is bringing the moon to D.C. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has partnered with the Smithsonian to create Moonwalk, the ultimate virtual reality experience.
Visitors will wear Meta virtual-reality (VR) headsets and travel to the moon, walking the same path as the Apollo astronauts and listening to audio recordings from the 1969 moon landing.
The exhibit is part of the FUTURES series in the Arts and Industries building and opens from May 4 to June 5.
"'Moonwalk' is a preview to what learning could be like in the future metaverse, a concept for the next phase of the internet," writes the Smithsonian in a press release. "Bridging the physical and digital worlds, the metaverse will allow people to co-exist and interact and can combine multiple 3D digital experiences to bring history, science, art and more to life. Through Meta Immersive Learning, Meta is working to increase access to learning through technology and develop the next generation of immersive experiences to help transform the way we learn and explore the world around us."
Using a process called photogrammetry, the designers of the program combined more than 7,000 archival images, audio recordings, and 3D images of the Apollo 11 command module to create the VR mission to the moon.
For those who can’t make it to the museum, the Smithsonian will be launching an AR effects adventure on Instagram. In addition, a free event on May 19 (We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Panel: Future Journeys at Your Fingertips) is being held and will find guests in a panel setting to discuss the role of virtual reality in immersive learning.
Are you going to give the VR exhibition a try next time you visit the Smithsonian museum? Sound off in the comments below.