NASA’s Tryst With VR

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NASAs Tryst With VR

• Well, I am sure no one would be surprised to know
  that NASA has used virtual reality for decades.
  But, the surprise is that the recent innovations
  in VR platforms like PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift,
  and HTC Vive, is also impacting NASA and how it
  trains astronauts for missions. Not just the
  masses, but this space agency is also glad about
  the consumer electronics industrys investment in
  VR and AR. For them too, it has unlocked
  opportunities that werent available earlier.
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• Even before Sony launched PlayStation VR at
  retail, Jeff Norris, the lead at the NASA Jet
  Propulsion Laboratory, had early versions of the
  device back when it was called Project Morpheus
  being used in tests to control the Robonaut 2
  (R2) humanoid robot, which is currently on board
  the International Space Station. 
• Norris said, PlayStation VR allows us to more
  naturally control a humanoid robot. Its as
  natural as moving your own hand. He added, We
  can make astronauts feel theyre really present
  where theyre going to be exploring.
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• In one of our previous blogs, titled Weird yet
  cool VR inventions, we also spoke about Manus VR
  gloves. These are a pair of gaming gloves which
  detects and then displays your hands in the
  virtual world. The Manus VR glove tracks hand
  movement, using a combination of high-tech
  sensors inside the glove. And now, dont be
  surprised to know that NASA is already using a
  prototype version of the gloves which arent
  available to the public yet. These are being used
  to help train astronauts before they head to the
  International Space Station. NASA uses the data
  gloves with the Vive. It has built mock-up rooms
  on Earth that replicate the layout of the
  International Space Station. Astronauts are able
  to navigate virtual spaces and pick up and use
  tools, just as they would in space.

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• But thats not all about how VR is helping NASA.
  This immersive technology has also helped the
  agency in planning its first exploration of Mars
  in the 2030s. Norris said, Because I work in
  mission operations, my team has been involved in
  how things are going on Mars, and how things are
  accomplished. He further added, We have this new
  medium that we can make astronauts feel like
  theyre really present in these environments that
  theyre going to be exploring. What does it look
  like standing on a hilltop on Mars? What does it
  feel like to be on the space station? These are
  the questions in so many peoples minds, and VR
  is a way we can answer them. 
• And with this continuous hard work and
  innovation, there is a surprise for us too. The
  Red Planet will soon be here at home, for all of
  us to explore. NASA has partnered with television
  network Fusion and is launching The Mars 2030
  experience across Oculus Rift, Google Cardboard,
  Samsung VR Gear, iOS and Android, although no
  release date has been given yet. Using Unreal
  Engine 4, MIT and Fusion are collaborating with
  NASA to create a 7.7 square mile interactive
  environment on Mars that players can traverse on
  foot or by a rover. The experience features
  actual topography, authentic gravity, and real
  lighting, as well as authentic missions based on
  things astronauts will one day do on the planet. 
• So, this is just the beginning of how the worlds
  best space agency is benefitting from the ever
  growing VR technology and bringing the outer
  space to the living rooms around the world.
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