Creating digital twins of real-world solutions is a common practice used for design assessments and training purposes. This approach is especially valuable in the human spaceflight domain, where certain hardware may exist in only a handful of copies and prove to be prohibitively expensive to replicate physically. A notable example…
The Astrophysical Lunar Observatory (ALO) is a conceptual low-frequency radio array strategically positioned on the far side of the Moon. The idea is that this location would serve as a shield against terrestrial radio pollution, allowing scientists to explore the cosmic dark ages and investigate the origins of the universe.…
The upcoming Argonaut lunar lander is tailored for launch aboard the Ariane 64 rocket. With the Argonaut developed by a large consortium of European companies headed by Airbus, and the Ariane 64 developed by the French company ArianeGroup, the synergy of these two systems has been envisioned to form the…
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is currently working on the development of a rover set to be deployed on the south pole of the Moon by the end of the decade. Given the close collaboration between CSA and ESA in the Artemis program, there is a significant emphasis on ensuring…
Future astronauts living and working on the Moon are expected to rely on VR for a range of purposes. Whilst relevant VR experiences have been developed and tested in terrestrial settings, none of them accounts for the lunar gravity and the manner in which it might impact a user’s interaction…
In June 2023, a few of my colleagues and I got invited to present our recent research papers at the SpaceCHI conference organized by the MIT Media Lab. Attending this conference offered us a unique opportunity to share our work with leading researchers in the field, receive valuable feedback, and…
With a stated goal of “accelerating the Use of Space in Europe”, 2021 witnessed the establishment of an independent High-Level Advisory Group by the ESA Director General. The group subsequently published a report recommending to “further investigate the technical, political, programmatic and economic relevance of developing a Europe-made human-rated space…
ESA’s Argonaut lunar lander is being hailed as a future keystone of Europe’s independent access to the Moon. An intensive study phase is currently underway with a view of paving the way for its design and eventual launch. Against this backdrop, our team seeks to support the Argonaut development by simulating…
Upcoming crewed missions to the lunar surface will face challenging environmental factors, including difficult terrain and extreme lighting conditions. Replicating and studying such conditions in a real-world terrestrial setting is both problematic and expensive. In contrast, modern VR engines, such as Unreal, are well-equipped to simulate such terrains and lighting…
A growing interest in organizational safety is driving the development of novel innovative fire evacuation training solutions. Past attempts have often utilized immersive virtual reality (VR) systems to enhance trainees’ understanding by allowing them to safely navigate hazardous scenarios. The predominantly audiovisual nature of such simulations has however attracted criticism…