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Finally: Virtual Reality Goes to Space

Astronauts aboard the ISS are getting hooked up with a pair of VR headsets to help them interact with researchers back on Earth.
Image: NASA

NASA has always taken virtual reality research pretty seriously, with everything from VR training suits to soothing VR environments that could help out homesick astronauts. Now, NASA has teamed up with Microsoft to blast off a pair of VR headsets to the International Space Station.

"Project Sidekick" will see a pair of HoloLenses delivered to the International Space Station on SpaceX's seventh resupply mission on June 28. The aim is to help researchers on the ground interact directly with ISS crew members, by providing visuals from space to Earth in real time. The project could also help astronauts in the future as they go on missions deep within our solar system.

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But judging from this YouTube clip, which shows NASA and Microsoft engineers testing the HoloLenses in microgravity condition within NASA's C9 jet, this time round, it'll probably allow the astronauts to add some extra spice to space station life.

At the moment, the HoloLens is equipped with two operating modes. The "Remote Expert Mode" function uses Skype to provide operators on the ground with visuals from the space station. Until now, astronauts have relied solely on voice and written instructions when they're conducting an experiment, or testing their knowledge with a repair task.

The real-time visuals transmitted from space afford operators on the ground an insight into the astronauts' environment, helping them give better feedback or advice in the event of an emergency. The function would also come in pretty handy when astronauts land on alien environments like Mars for the first time; they'd be able to rely on immediate advice or assistance from Earth.

"This new technology could empower future explorers requiring greater autonomy on the journey to Mars," said Sam Scimemi, director of the ISS program at NASA Headquarters in Washington in a press statement.

The second operating mode, "Procedure Mode," adds animated holographic illustrations on top of objects that the crew are using. NASA suggested that this tool could reduce training time for future crews, and be an added bonus when astronauts go on longer missions deep within our solar system, where communication delays are bound to be a problem. Think of it like having an augmented reality encyclopedia or emergency manual in space.

When the devices rocket up at the station this weekend, the station crew will be test whether the procedure mode functions well. Another pair of devices, to be delivered at a future date, will test out network connectivity.

NASA and Microsoft will also be taking their HoloLenses for a deep dive to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. NASA's Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) expedition will launch on July 21 and will see a group of astronauts and engineers simulate space exploration in the Aquarius—the world's only research centre in the sea.

It's pretty cool to know that one day, should astronauts actually blast off Mars, those of us stuck on Earth will at least be guaranteed a POV live stream of events.