AVATAR X programme phases. Credit: © ANA Holdings Inc. / JAXA.

Air transport company Ana Holdings, together with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), has launched a new programme, AVATAR X, to boost space exploration using real-world Avatars.

A real-world Avatar is a human-controlled robot that enables a person to see, hear, feel and interact freely in a remote environment in real-time.

It consists of an operator apparatus, a pilot, and remote apparatus, an Avatar, which are in sync with each other.

The AVATAR X programme has been designed to allow humans to remotely build camps on the Moon, promote long-term space missions.

The programme aims to launch new space businesses, which include remote construction on the Moon and Mars; operation and maintenance of space stations and facilities from Earth, and space-based entertainment and travel for the general public.

“The AVATAR X programme has been designed to allow humans to remotely build camps on the Moon, promote long-term space missions.”

Sheduled to start this year, the first phase of AVATAR X will see the formation of the AVATAR X consortium, which will be responsible for discussing and designing the programme.

During the second phase, the new AVATAR X Lab@OITA facility will be constructed in the southern prefecture of Oita, Japan, and will be the first dedicated Avatar space test field in the world.

The third phase, expected to begin in the early 2020’s, will transport technologies developed at the Oita facility to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for testing in space.

Once the capabilities of the new technologies are confirmed in the space environment, the AVATAR X programme will begin its fourth phase.

This phase will involve the use of technologies to start building and further exploring the Moon, Mars and beyond.