NASA WANTS TO USE MIXED REALITY SYSTEMS FOR ASTRONAUT TRAINING

Facebook and Microsoft have always touted the applications of virtual reality and augmented reality beyond entertainment. NASA has taken this to heart and is now developing a “mixed reality” system to help train astronauts.

NASA has partnered up with Unreal to utilize the well-known Unreal Engine game engine to create simulated environments where astronauts can train in conjunction with their time in the Natural Buoyancy Lab, reports TechRadar.

Unreal recently released a video showcasing the ways that astronauts can interact with various instruments and machines through mixed reality. They can also experience maintenance scenarios that they would likely encounter on the International Space Station (ISS).

With the current pace of development for virtual reality technology, VR training may become the norm not just for astronauts but also for other occupations.