DSI

Deep Space Industries (DSI) has announced a project to create a virtual reality (VR) recording system that will offer anyone with a VR headset to have an astronaut-like experience aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The VR system will use a spherical video capture system to create a virtual reality (VR) float-through tour of the International Space Station’s science lab.

The systems will be created by DSI in collaboration with Thrillbox, and the Centre for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), managers of the ISS US National Laboratory.

"The partnership with DSI will allow us to distribute this unique space experience to consumers around the world."

CASIS also expects to use the spherical video to familiarise potential researchers with the scientific facilities on the ISS National Lab.

DSI vice-chair David Gump said: "The space station is packed with equipment, literally in every direction. Gear is built into the walls, embedded in the floor, and tucked into the ceiling.

"The spherical video captured during a float through will enable people to look everywhere, as they would if they were up in the station themselves."

The project is a part of DSI’s initial step in developing VR systems to be used for exploring and mining asteroids.

Thrillbox will focus on distributing the captured images to the maximum number of people.

The ISS floating tour will be viewable in high-end devices such as the upcoming retail Oculus Rift and PlayStation headsets, as well as high-resolution smartphones and tablets.

Thrillbox CEO Benjamin Durham said: "The partnership with DSI will allow us to distribute this unique space experience to consumers around the world."

DSI along with CASIS will develop a video capture rig with multiple cameras covering a spherical field of view that aims to provide a real-time experience to the users.

CASIS expects to manifest the capture rig by next year.

Image: Left: International Space Station’s Destiny module, just after installation in 2001. Right: Destiny module in use in 2002. Photo: courtesy of Nasa.