VR space tourism planned

Only very few people have been able to observe our planet from space. And as space travel is not yet ready to transport very many people into space at low cost, virtual reality has to step in.

The British studio Rewind and In-Space Missionsan association of space experts, have jointly founded the startup Spacetime Enterprises to launch a special 360-degree camera device into space in September 2019. The satellite will then be used to stream high-resolution 360-degree videos into VR glasses.

The aim: VR users should experience the so-called overview effect. On Wikipedia "The Overview Effect is the phenomenon experienced by space travellers when they see planet Earth from space for the first time. Coined by Frank White's 1987 book of the same name, the Overview Effect is described as an experience that changes one's perspective of planet Earth and the human race living on it. Fundamental characteristics are a sense of awe, a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of all life on Earth and a new sense of responsibility for our environment."

Incidentally, this is something that HTC and the startup SpaceVR are also trying to do and are working on a similar project. A 360-degree camera rig has already been transported to the ISS and is awaiting installation and commissioning there. The competition is therefore already a step ahead. Otherwise, Spacetime Enterprises is planning to launch three to five years to put more satellites into operation in order to be able to show the Earth from all sides in real time.

Source: VRODO