Uses for VR in Space

[Robotengineer]

The recent introduction of consumer virtual reality headsets has got me thinking about potential applications of VR to human space exploration, particularly the psychological issues related to being extremely far from Earth (or at least far enough to not be able to see features on the Earth). A sufficiently advanced VR headset could be used to 'transport' astronauts back to Earth, either with specially made VR experiences or what would amount to HD google street view. If you combined the headset with a treadmill, you could allow astronauts to take 'walks' on Earth. 

What do you guys think about this? What are some of your own ideas for applications of VR tech in the space sector?

[OrbitalBuzzsaw]

I think it could be useful for training.

[Evanitis]

Dunno about serious field applications...

But there is Adr1ft already:

Don't think I'll get any close to getting a VR set or get to one to try one in the next few years.. unless they release something really groundbreaking and cool..

In the meantime, there's this Gravity-inspired 'gameoid', designed for Occulus and alikes. Critis said it's breathtaking, gets dull very quick and gets them VR-sick faster than any other product that had support for such.

Edited June 23, 2016 by Evanitis

[magnemoe]

One obvious use would be tele pretense, just having a camera track the head would be useful with an robot arm or other robots. 
 

[Nibb31]

Yep, it could replace EVA and even landing on other planets really.

[p1t1o]

Howabout psychological support? On a multi-week/month journey somewhere cooped up in a tin can, it might be benficial to spend a few minutes/hours a day in a nice spacious (no pun intended) VR environment. Or communicating with loved ones in a more immersive setting.

In the limited volume of a spacecraft, it could also have value simulating things that need a lot of space, sports for example. Or even things like a really big pinboard for all your science notes. You could have a virtual lab onboard the craft. Or a virtual pub!

[Nibb31]

4 hours ago, p1t1o said:

Howabout psychological support? On a multi-week/month journey somewhere cooped up in a tin can, it might be benficial to spend a few minutes/hours a day in a nice spacious (no pun intended) VR environment. Or communicating with loved ones in a more immersive setting.

That would be anecdotal, not really an enabler technology for space.

 

Edited June 23, 2016 by Nibb31

[Nuke]

telepresence.

its better to have robots outside doing most of the work, the operator can sit inside his radiation shielded module and do his job without risking himself in the process. never underestimate the number of mundane outdoor jobs that immediately become high risk operations the second you remove the atmosphere from the equation. were already kind of starting to see this on the iss, and so it will apply to moon bases and asteroid mining and the like.

Edited June 23, 2016 by Nuke

[Bill Phil]

So... holodecks? But much better?

[Robotengineer]

2 hours ago, Bill Phil said:

So... holodecks? But much better?

IDK, I'm not a trekkie, but after a quick look at the wiki page on it, yes. 

[kerbiloid]

15 hours ago, Robotengineer said:

A sufficiently advanced VR headset could be used to 'transport' astronauts back to Earth

A sufficiently advanced VR headset could be used to 'transport' astronauts back to from Earth.

Also, a pack of nerds orbiting Mars/Jupiter/so on in a playroom capsule without windows, doing their favorite job: playing videogames, but with Martian avatar droids.
We They can even not realize that they're far from the Earth. Even more: that would make no difference.

Edited June 24, 2016 by kerbiloid