KEY POINTS
NASA is using virtual reality (VR) headsets to design its space station Gateway, which will orbit around the Moon.
In a blog, NASA’s Public Affairs Officer Dylan Connell shared pictures and details of astronauts Raja Chari and Nicole Mann training with VR headsets. Chari and Mann were part of SpaceX’s previous missions to the International Space Station.
NASA’s lunar space station Gateway, which would be around 386,243 kilometers from the Earth compared to the International Space Station’s about 400 kilometers, will be the first deep-space lab for astronauts.
VR headsets use spatial computing technology that seamlessly blend computing with the surrounding space. They offer a three-dimensional viewing experience, and the display size can be scaled from a few hundred feet to a few centimeters. The display can be used as an overlay in a virtual or real environment, making it a game-changer device for education and training.
In the pictures shared by NASA, the astronauts are seen using HTC’s VIVE VR headsets, whose price in the market is $1,399. VR headsets are in the news after Meta released Quest, with Apple following suit by unveiling its Vision Pro on February 2, priced at $3,499.
Many big companies, including Walmart and Nike, have decided to use Vision Pro to enhance consumer experience and employee efficiency. At the launch of Vision Pro, it had 600 VR apps and the number is likely to grow with time.
As per a market research, the market of augmented and virtual reality headsets will grow to over $25 billion by 2023.
NASA astronauts’ use of VR headsets to design the Moon space station and train future space travelers hints at the potential use cases of these devices. Big companies and universities are reportedly working with VR headset manufacturers to develop new applications with specific tasks and objectives in focus.
While the Gateway project is making significant progress, its scheduled launch for October 2025 is reportedly being extended to align with the launch of Artemis IV mission in 2028.
