Where have I been for a couple of months? I had to reprioritize my energy to deal with some events and objectives that urgently needed my attention. We had a couple of family situations come up that took the wind out of my sails, just as I was preparing to start my holiday decorating. I had also planned to take a technical certification exam before the end of the year, and that required a lot of study and preparation. I just didn’t have the powers of concentration to put into that, so I took it off the table until the new year. I did pass it, by the way, on January 26, and the exam was Azure Fundamentals. That now leaves me with some processing cycles to put back into my other goals, like writing articles for my blogs. This is Part 2 of a three-part series on how Virtual Reality is being used to train astronauts. You can find Part 1 here.
I’m going to start this segment by examining the benefits of using VR to train for space, the challenges and limitations of the technologies available, and some case studies of actual uses. Let’s go!
Benefits of VR
There are some tasks that are difficult to practice for space without being in space. There are others that are pretty much impossible. Virtual Reality provides an opportunity for astronauts to practice using robotic arms before putting their hands on the real equipment. An accident or incident with the VR tool will be far less costly and harmful than it would be with the real equipment. Docking spacecraft to the International Space Station is another activity that is much better to flub in Virtual Reality than in genuine reality. The alignment doesn’t leave a lot of room for error, and the seals have to be accurately engaged in order to maintain the proper environment. Finally, performing a spacewalk without the benefit of the space conditions is hard to practice, but a VR simulator can create a close-enough situation for an astronaut to get the idea of what he’ll experience.
Training for space was once extremely expensive and complex, but VR is helping to reduce both the cost and complexity. By creating an immersive virtual environment, the need for large physical facilities is reduced substantially. Additionally, VR allows “anywhere you are” training, rather than requiring the candidates to travel to special locations. As a result, training can be more frequent and more effective. The VR equipment can also measure the astronaut’s performance, pinpointing areas for improvement and identifying progress toward objectives.
Because of the flexibility of VR options, astronauts can experience increased well-being and motivation. The astronauts have the ability to select different environments and situations to meet needs and moods. Since space missions tend to be longer than your average road trip, VR rigs onboard the spacecraft can also provide means to help crews deal with feelings of stress, boredom, and isolation on missions.
Cost Effectiveness
In addition to eliminating the need for big buildings and expensive travel, there are a couple of other ways VR tames costs in space training. Engineers and scientists can use VR to test spacecraft designs before building them. It’s a lot more palatable for a spacecraft to fall apart in VR than it is in actual flight. A well-designed VR program can help identify trouble spots in the design, as well as areas for refinement. Getting things fixed in the design phase rather than the build phase can reduce the time required for changes, and that can get spacecraft to the launch pad more quickly and at reduced costs.
The adaptability and versatility of VR training equipment can help reduce the risk of injuries to the astronauts by providing a variety of training scenarios. Variety can also add to the psychological well-being of the crew members. Good physical and emotional health prevents conditions that can compromise the mission in a location far away from comprehensive medical facilities.
Challenges and Limitations
Using Virtual Reality for astronaut training can come with some challenges, and it isn’t limitless. For one thing, all the realistic graphics, sound, and motion tracking that contribute to an immersive experience create a high demand on computing power, network bandwidth, and battery life. While this may not be a huge problem here on our planet, replicating those resources on the International Space Station could be difficult. Another prospect of using VR is that some people experience eye strain, motion sickness, and fatigue during and after a session. These conditions can make it harder for the astronauts to stay alert and focused during a mission.
VR doesn’t always integrate seamlessly with other training systems, causing compatibility issues. The heavy resource demands can also introduce latency in responses, reducing the realistic experience. And, despite the phrase’s intent, VR still can’t fully replicate certain real-world conditions and sensations. Finally, keeping the system up-to-date and improving the content to adjust to changing missions and additional technologies can present logistical challenges.
SOURCES AND CONTINUATION OF THE SERIES
Here are a few sites that go deeper into what I covered in this post – enjoy! Stay tuned for the conclusion of the series
How NASA uses virtual reality to train astronauts – Space Center Houston
Nine Ways We Use AR and VR on the International Space Station – NASA
Virtual Reality for Space Exploration and Astronaut Training – Skywell Software
How Does Virtual Reality Contribute to Astronaut Training? (higherechelon.com)
How NASA is using virtual reality to train astronauts | Digital Trends
NASA’s Virtual Reality Lab For Astronaut Training (youtube.com)