International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 02 | Feb 2025
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
Extended Reality In U.S. Spaceflight Operations: A Review Of Historic And Potential Future Applications Savan C. Becker1, Michael E. Johnson, PhD2 1 Department of Engineering, Capitol Technology University, Laurel, MD, USA 2 Adjunct Professor, Department of Engineering, Capitol Technology University, Laurel, MD, USA
---------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------reality also covers mediated remote experiences – such as Abstract - Extended reality (XR) concepts and technology telepresence and telerobotics – that can be enhanced by have been used by the National Aeronautics and Space VR/AR/MR-associated technologies. This is particularly Administration (NASA) since the very early days of the U.S. the case when such implementations include immersive space program, primarily evidenced by the agency’s elements that enhance a user’s sensation of “presence” extensive application of XR-enabled telerobotic techniques within synthetic, augmented, or mixed-reality renditions while conducting remote exploration and space operations of distant environments. Many of the concepts underlying [1, 2, 3]. NASA has also leveraged virtual reality (VR), and driving the development and evolution of XR methods augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) when and technologies have their roots in science fiction [3]. facilitating human spaceflight training, seeking ways to Fittingly, throughout its history the National Aeronautics ensure astronaut physical and mental health, and designing and Space Administration (NASA) has investigated, human-machine interfaces; the agency has further developed, and implemented XR techniques to accomplish experimented with telepresence applications, which its space exploration mission [1, 2, 4, 15, 16, 17, 18]. integrate multiple XR disciplines [1, 2, 4]. Here we present a survey of historic and recent XR-related efforts in the U.S. We begin our review of XR technology in the U.S. space space program and also highlight forecasted uses of such program by highlighting notable historic experimental and technologies in future long duration (i.e., cislunar and operational applications of telerobotics, VR/AR/MR, and interplanetary) space missions, such as Artemis [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, telepresence in NASA-led human and human-robotic space 10]. Note that this article focuses on human and humaninitiatives. Afterward, we discuss potential uses of XR robotic spaceflight operations and does not cover the technology in future space exploration programs, focusing ubiquitous examples of XR being used throughout NASA for on applications for long-duration cislunar and additional science, engineering, analytic, and educational interplanetary spaceflight endeavors such as Artemis [5, 6, applications [11, 12, 13, 14]. Throughout this review it 7, 8, 9, 10]. should be evident that as XR concepts, techniques, and subdisciplines have emerged and evolved, increasingly 2. TELEROBOTICS IN THE U.S. SPACE PROGRAM advanced integrated use cases of the technologies have also manifested. Telerobotic operations involve the remote control of robots to perform actions in distant and/or dangerous Key Words: Technology, Extended Reality, Virtual environments [3, 19, 20]. Telerobots can be operated via Reality, Augmented Reality, Robots, Telerobotics, various control schemes, some of which are designed to Telepresence, Telemedicine, Telehealth, Humanhelp compensate for distance-related communications Machine Interfaces, NASA, Space, Spaceflight, delay (i.e., latency), or to assist humans by handling Spacecraft, ISS, Artemis, Gateway, Moon, Mars, complex processes – thereby freeing the controller to Cislunar, Space Exploration, Mars Rovers, Science focus on aspects of tasks that require more skill, Fiction, Gaming, Video Games, Cyberspace, Digital innovation, or attention. These control methods include Twins, Virtual Worlds, Synthetic Environments, [3, 19, 20]: Immersive Worlds
1. INTRODUCTION Extended reality (XR) is an umbrella term encompassing concepts, technologies, and techniques that enable humanhuman and/or human-machine interactions within virtual environments (VE) and combined environments featuring real and computer-generated components [3]. The XR domain includes the subdisciplines of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). Extended © 2025, IRJET
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Full Autonomy: The robot can operate on its own to accomplish tasks, without operator intervention. Supervisory Control/Partial Autonomy: An operator is responsible for defining the higher-level goals for the telerobot based on its current situation. The robot can handle some complex processes autonomously but performs its functions under the overall control of a person using a command-based structure. Useful under conditions with substantial latency.
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