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ICE Cubes Service: Joint venture established to provide space education & access to space
29/07/22

Space Applications Services (BE), in partnership with METAVISIONARIES (UK), and with the involvement of the International Space University, Jim Green (previously NASA Chief Scientist), Tara Ruttley are pleased to announce the establishment of METASPACE Sarl (LU). This is a joint venture providing space education and access to space by integrating Web 3.0 and Metaverse technology with use of the International Space Station by means of the ICE Cubes Service.
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In order to be able to take advantage of the emerging Low Earth Orbit and Lunar economies, the knowledge and skills to innovate, commercialise and explore space must be available. Education and research are key. This building of capacity will ensure the economies of the future take advantage of and benefit from space.
The ICE Cubes Service Manager, Mauro Ricci and Hilde Stenuit, Principal Scientist explain, “The capability of METASPACE to penetrate markets, thanks to their program of capacity development, will allow for the world-wide expansion of the ICE Cubes activities and the establishment of long terms programs of development and launches of payloads, not limited to educational experiments.”
The Managing Director of Space Applications Services, Richard Aked adds: “The company’s mission is to ‘Explore and create solutions to benefit human endeavour in space and on Earth’ and the METASPACE initiative fits very well with this mission.”
What does METASPACE Sarl provide?
METASPACE Sarl strives to redefine learning for the benefit of humanity and the future of the planet. It provides a unique integration of thought leaders, education, students, space expertise and frequent direct access to space in a new kind of university.
Space Innovation Labs in Europe, the Middle East, South America, Africa and around the world with leading educators and educational institutions are being established. They are composed of a Technical Laboratory to develop space systems as well as a Control Center to operate these systems once launched. They also provide inspiration, engineering and scientific support to students by putting access to space at their finger tips.
Global Sustainability Space Challenge offering students and researchers prizes for the best ideas for sustainable space using the metaverse as an enabler of capacity building as well as the space economy and frontier technologies. The five tracks for 2022 are:
• Climate Action Track (SDG 13)
• Sustainable Food & Agriculture Track (SDG 2)
• Life Science & Healthcare Track (SDG 13)
• Sustainable Consumption and Supply Chains Track (SDG 12)
• Sustainable arts, Fashion & 3D printing (SDG 9)The prize for the winner of each track has a value of 250,000 USD, cash, access to the Space Innovation Labs and engineering and business plan mentoring.
MetavisionariesU is a virtual university using the metaverse with schools in Space Science, Leadership & Legacy, Creative Arts, Humanities, Entrepreneurship, Web3 Technologies, Environmental Science, Health & Sport. Each school has its own set of courses and programs but share common threads and experiences for a complete interdisciplinary education.
The inaugural event, in the metaverse, took place in July with the participation of Dr. Tara Ruttley, Jim Green, Griffiths University (Australia), Ohio State University, Pepperdine University, Qatar University, Global Entrepreneurs Institute, International Space University, UNICEF, Giga Representative Jovita Majatuske and many more. There will also be a live event at the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2022 (the first such event to receive an international sustainability certificate) to announce the winners of the Global Sustainability Space Challenge 2022.
Watch the Event.
Education and research are key. This building of capacity will ensure the economies of the future take advantage of and benefit from space.
Meet our Partners
Space Applications Services
Space Applications Services (with Aerospace Applications North America) provides systems for LEO and lunar destinations. Space Applications will establish the Innovation Labs infrastructure and the ICE Cubes Service will support the development, launch and operation of payloads. The company develops systems that comprise ground segment and control centres, platform and payloads, advanced robotics and mechanisms. Services including scientific, education, engineering, mission integration and astronaut training are also provided.
Metavisionaries
Bring people a world where every human has access to quality education, that inspires confidence, and builds the competency required to improve one’s life and better the world. Metavisionaries believe through the lens of space, it possible to empower a generation of change makers globally to achieve this vision. The company creates a new kind of University, utilising Web3 and frontier technologies, e.g in Metaverse, to make learning truly interdisciplinary, immersive, and inclusive. This is done through curricula ownership and credentialing, the proprietary Metaverse platform, and providing access to world class education for those living in energy and connectivity poverty.
News/SpaceApps/Communications & MediaRuth Chatukuta