VR simulators of the Moon have been created for astronauts

As NASA prepares for the Artemis III mission, in which Americans will land on the moon for the first time in half a century, new technologies are changing the methods of training astronauts. Thanks to advances in virtual reality, scientists are creating highly detailed photorealistic simulations of the moon's south pole, where it is expected to land.

The ambitious project, led by Kip Hodges from the Arizona State University School of Earth and Space Exploration, uses the latest images and laser scans from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to create VR models that are virtually indistinguishable from the real lunar surface, the developers note. These virtual environments will allow astronauts to explore potential landing sites and practice "extravehicular activity" (VD) on a simulated lunar landscape.

"These VR simulations are becoming important tools for mission planning, enabling astronauts to design and conduct the safest and most effective operations on the moon," says Professor Hodges. "Thanks to this technology, the next generation of lunar explorers will be able to begin their journey long before they leave Earth."

Source: Rambler