Astronauts are already practicing living aboard the first space station around the moon by using virtual reality.
NASA's budding moon-dwellers are exploring the yet-to-be-built Lunar Gateway space station via VR headsets, fine-tuning the design of the future spacecraft.
Gateway will be the first space station to orbit the moon and will be a crucial part of NASA's Artemis missions to our lunar companion in the coming years.
Two of the astronauts involved in the VR investigation of a virtual version of the space station are Raja Chari and Nicole Mann, commanders of the SpaceX Crew-3 and Crew-5 missions to the International Space Station, respectively. Using VR, they explored the designs of the station at NASA's Johnson Space Center's Virtual Reality Training Lab and offered important insights into what is and isn't needed for a long-haul stay on a space station.
One of the modules they explored was the HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost) module, where astronauts will live and perform science experiments. HALO's primary structure is currently in construction in Turin, Italy, and this module is one of four that will comprise the Gateway station as a whole.
Gateway will be the first space station we have built that will live outside of low-Earth orbit. It is hoped to have a lifespan of at least 15 years and will be about 20 percent the size of the ISS. Putting Gateway together in lunar orbit will take about six years and four rocket launches, a much quicker process compared to the International Space Station, which required 42 assembly flights over roughly 13 years.
The initial parts of Gateway, namely the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and HALO, will hitch a ride to lunar orbit together aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, slated for no earlier than 2025. When fully operational, Gateway will zip through space at speeds approaching 3.2 kilometers per second.
During VR testing, the astronauts simulate various activities they'll encounter in their daily routines on Gateway during actual Artemis missions. This includes conducting scientific experiments, fetching supplies, and cooking meals.
By merging VR simulations with astronauts' real-life experiences, NASA designers can refine Gateway's interior layout to ensure a safer and more comfortable environment for the space station.
Astronauts will step foot into Gateway for the very first time during the Artemis IV mission. Gateway is hoped to support not only the Artemis missions to the moon but also continuous exploration and scientific study in the depths of space, including future missions to Mars.
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Jess Thomson is a Newsweek Science Reporter based in London UK. Her focus is reporting on science, technology and healthcare. ... Read more
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