[The two new stories below highlight the important role of different types of presence in the exploration and commercialization of space. The first from Business Insider is about a year-long NASA simulation; as the linked press release says,
“The habitat will simulate the challenges of a mission on Mars, including resource limitations, equipment failure, communication delays, and other environmental stressors. Crew tasks may include simulated spacewalks, scientific research, use of virtual reality and robotic controls, and exchanging communications.”
The second story, from The Register, describes an ambitious project in Japan to deploy “mobile robot ’space avatars’ controllable by the public from Earth” to assist astronauts, promote space exploration and “create a virtual remote space tourism experience aimed at those who can’t afford to hitch a ride with Jeff Bezos or Richard Branson.” –Matthew]
NASA wants paid volunteers to spend a year living in a 3D-printed Martian habitat in Texas, where they will carry out spacewalks and research using VR tech
By Zahra Tayeb
August 8, 2021
NASA is looking for applicants to spend a whole year pretending they live on Mars.
The 1,700 square-foot Martian surface is located inside the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
These types of simulations are called analog missions. Insider’s Alyssa Pagano reported on the challenges of an eight-month analog mission in 2018.
For the newly announced mission, applications opened on Friday for four people to live on Mars Dune Alpha, a 3D-printed habitat. The US agency is planning three such experiments, with the first one due to begin next fall.
The paid volunteers will take part in a simulated Martian exploration mission, complete with spacewalks. They will only have limited contact with their families and friends back home, and must learn to cope with restricted resources and equipment failures.
The news comes as the space agency ramps up its plans to eventually set up a station on the moon and send people to Mars, as part of its Artemis program.
Grace Douglas, lead scientist for NASA’s Advanced Food Technology research effort, said in a press release: “The analog is critical for testing solutions to meet the complex needs of living on the Martian surface.”
She added: “Simulations on Earth will help us understand and counter the physical and mental challenges astronauts will face before they go.”
Applicants will need to hold a master’s degree in engineering, maths, or computer science and have at least two years of pilot experience.
The agency also specified that only US citizens or permanent residents qualify for the experiment. They have to be aged between 30-55 and in good physical health. They must not be prone to motion sickness.
Sky News reported that Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield said the mission would mean “incredible freedom” in a “year away from the demands of your normal life.”
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[From The Register]
[Image: Source: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)]
Japan plans remote-controlled robotic space tourism to the ISS and beyond
‘Avatars’ that roam around space station, or do work with high performance hands, to be controllable from the ground
By Laura Dobberstein
27 July 2021
The International Space Station is getting mobile robot “space avatars” controllable by the public from Earth, courtesy of a joint project between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and ANA Holdings’ telepresence start-up avatarin.
The project will create a virtual remote space tourism experience aimed at those who can’t afford to hitch a ride with Jeff Bezos or Richard Branson.
JAXA’s press release reads:
“This plan will be promoted under the slogan “SPACE FOR ALL ― open a new era of commercial space travel,” with the hopes of democratizing the commercial space travel era that is rapidly being developed by private space businesses.”
This isn’t the first collaboration between JAXA and avatarin. The duo collaborated last year resulting in a technology demonstration of virtual experience enabling robots onboard the KIBO module of the ISS.
The new project builds on that technology demonstration increasing the role of robots onboard the ISS with a new type of avatar that will act as a co-worker for astronauts on the station and on other settings like the moon. Avatars working in this capacity will have high-precision hands. Other avatars will be all about an entertainment experience.
In addition to the two new types of avatars, the project will use an existing type of avatar robot called “newme” as education and public relations tools, giving virtual tours and nurturing interest in space exploration from Earth.
avatarin will provide the avatars and telepresence tech; JAXA will bring its space experience, knowledge and facilities; and a third party, the University of Tokyo School of Engineering, will pitch in by developing a self-position estimation system.
None of the parties are saying when the avatars will become available for a spot of tele-tourism, but their aspirations already exceed ISS experiences and aim at “possible robotics technologies that can be effectively deployed in future space exploration missions.”
And seeing as JAXA has twice landed on asteroids, we may be in for quite a ride.