NASA Adopts VR Technology To Simulate Moon Travel

JAKARTA Virtual Reality Technology (VR) now plays an important role in studying science, especially in exploring space. Therefore, NASA uses VR to simulate the Moon's state.

NASA is one of the space agencies that has ambitions to land humans on the Moon. For several years, NASA focused on the Artemis program so that the first woman and the first black woman could land on the surface of the Moon.

There are many things that need to be prepared, including training astronauts who have never set foot on the Moon. There are many forms of training that astronauts need to follow, one of which is walking exercises in an environment similar to the Moon's surface.

These astronauts are also trained to run only using VR. According to NASA, the use of this technology is much more accurate and of course cost-effective. This training has already begun by the Artemis III Geological team at the Johnson Space Center.

In fact, field trials are the most important thing when you want to expose the Moon directly. Usually, these tests are carried out in remote locations and can take up to a year just to make plans.

By carrying out the Artemis III Surface Extra-VR Mini Simulation, this technology will accelerate the planning stage. Other preparations in limited time, budget, and resources can also be handled with VR technology.

"VR helps us overcome some of these limitations and allows us to conduct more in-depth and high-accuracy training without having to go to the field," said Bri Trigger, one of the leaders of the simulation team at Johnson.

Although NASA has adopted VR technology in testing the environment and planning, the agency says that field testing will not be replaced. They still need this testing method even though the technology is getting more sophisticated.

According to NASA, no technology can replace the crew members' experiences when trying a really similar environment. The reason is, they have to experience the challenge of a moonwalk or how difficult it is to walk above the Moon's surface.