Exploring the Unreachable: How Virtual Reality is Revolutionizing Space Exploration

Imagine standing on the surface of an asteroid, feeling the low gravity and gazing at the vast, gray expanse of Ryugu. Sounds like science fiction? Not anymore. With the help of virtual reality (VR), scientists and researchers can now explore worlds that were previously inaccessible.

At the 2024 Astronomical Society of Australia’s Annual Scientific Meeting, attendees had the opportunity to experience this futuristic technology firsthand. The conference was held entirely online, using the platform Spatial to provide a digital venue for attendees to connect and share their research. The Future of Meetings, an international collaboration, created a virtual space that featured poster halls, exhibition halls, meeting rooms, and a lecture theater.

As a VR skeptic, I was initially hesitant to attend the conference in this format. However, as a space enthusiast, I was thrilled to have the chance to stand on an asteroid. I booted up Spatial and navigated my avatar through the Exhibition Hall, before jumping through a portal to Ryugu and the Hayabusa2 spacecraft that visited it in 2018.

The experience was surreal. I felt like I was playing a video game, but instead of collecting coins, I was exploring the surface of an asteroid. The Ryugu model was created by OmniScope, a start-up founded by astronomer Sasha Kaurov, using real imagery captured by Hayabusa2. While it’s not a perfect replica, it accurately recreates the area surrounding the spacecraft’s landing zone.

Elizabeth Tasker, a professor at JAXA and part of the agency’s outreach team, noted that the model’s topology is not to scale, but the Hayabusa2 spacecraft, lander, and rovers are accurately scaled. The digital 3D model provides a unique way to examine the spacecraft’s finer details, such as its target markers and small carry-on impactor.

The VR experience is not just about exploring the surface of an asteroid; it’s a tool for scientists to study and understand the universe. By using data and real-world observations, researchers can visit places they may never be able to reach physically. Tasker conducted a tour of the exhibit, pointing out features of the Hayabusa2 spacecraft that wouldn’t be as clear in a traditional presentation.

The Ryugu surface is not a complete asteroid, but it’s still an incredible experience. You can’t walk from one side to the other, but you can jump and float in the low gravity. And, as Tasker warned, you can even run off the edge and fall into space – only to be reborn back on the asteroid surface.

Standing on the VR surface of an asteroid, I felt a sense of awe and appreciation for the difficulty of landing on a tiny rock, floating millions of miles from Earth. It’s an experience that will stay with me, and one that I hope will inspire others to explore the wonders of the universe.

Key Takeaways:

• Virtual reality is being used to explore worlds that were previously inaccessible
• The 2024 Astronomical Society of Australia’s Annual Scientific Meeting was held entirely online using the platform Spatial
• The Ryugu model was created by OmniScope using real imagery captured by Hayabusa2
• The digital 3D model provides a unique way to examine the Hayabusa2 spacecraft’s finer details
• VR is a tool for scientists to study and understand the universe
• The experience is not just about exploring the surface of an asteroid, but about appreciating the difficulty of landing on a tiny rock in space.

Historical Context:

• The concept of virtual reality (VR) has been around for decades, with the first VR headsets emerging in the 1960s. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that VR technology started to gain popularity, with the introduction of the first consumer-grade VR headsets.
• In the 2000s, VR technology continued to evolve, with the development of more advanced headsets and the creation of virtual reality platforms like Second Life.
• In recent years, VR technology has become more accessible and affordable, with the introduction of standalone VR headsets like Oculus Quest and the rise of virtual reality platforms like Spatial.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• Virtual reality is being used to explore worlds that were previously inaccessible, such as the surface of an asteroid.
• The 2024 Astronomical Society of Australia’s Annual Scientific Meeting was held entirely online using the platform Spatial, allowing attendees to connect and share their research remotely.
• The Ryugu model was created by OmniScope using real imagery captured by Hayabusa2, providing a unique way to examine the Hayabusa2 spacecraft’s finer details.
• Virtual reality is a tool for scientists to study and understand the universe, allowing them to visit places they may never be able to reach physically.
• The experience is not just about exploring the surface of an asteroid, but about appreciating the difficulty of landing on a tiny rock in space.
• The digital 3D model provides a unique way to examine the Hayabusa2 spacecraft’s finer details, such as its target markers and small carry-on impactor.
• The VR experience is not just about exploring the surface of an asteroid, but about feeling a sense of awe and appreciation for the difficulty of landing on a tiny rock in space.