On board the International Space Station, astronauts use multiple virtual reality headsets for their psychological well-being, mental health and entertainment. The headsets used have included HTC's Vive Focus 3 on board the Orbital Complex since November. This helmet is designed to maintain the mental health of astronauts as part of a unique “space therapy” experiment. It is the astronaut of the European Space Agency, the Dane Andreas Mogensen, who is testing it in real conditions. A few days ago it was decided that Andreas Mogensen would also use this helmet for his physical activity!
Virtual Reality and AI to Improve Mental Health of Astronauts and Patients
A decision that can be explained by the fact that it is “essential to maintain the physical health of astronauts in microgravity. Not only for the success of a mission, but also for their long-term health, and it also contributes to mental health,” explains Thomas AE Andersen, CEO of the Danish aerospace company. He added that “the physical challenges of living in a low-gravity environment cannot be underestimated, given the loss of muscle mass and bone density that astronauts suffer.”
“It is important to maintain the physical health of astronauts in weightlessness. Not just for the success of a mission, but for their long-term health, and it also contributes to mental health.”
Specifically, the HTC headset complements a Fergo exercise bike and offers a virtual reality (VR) experience developed by the Danish aerospace company. With the Vive Focus 3, Andreas can enjoy a synchronized visual and physical experience during his training. The landscape in the virtual reality experience evolves in real time and the Vive Focus 3 communicates with the Fergo via Bluetooth to adjust resistance depending on the terrain. Andreas can choose from five different cycling routes, all of which were filmed in Denmark. A scenario with unique views of Loekken beach proposed by a 10-year-old girl from Saltum, winner of a competition in Denmark, was also part of the experience.
Very significant loss of muscle and bone mass
Experts have pointed out that astronauts can lose up to 40% of their muscle mass and 12% of their bone mass during a five-month mission, “equivalent to transforming a 20-year-old into a 60-year-old over a period of time.” of three months”. Astronauts must therefore complete a daily training program to minimize the effects of weightlessness. Andreas also mentioned that the Vive Focus 3 allows him to mentally recharge his batteries by recreating feelings of nature through the sounds of virtual reality.
In conclusion, the use of HTC's Vive Focus 3 virtual reality headset on board the ISS is an important advance for the well-being of astronauts. Not only does it support their mental health, but it is now also used for their physical training. This initiative aims to counteract the negative effects of microgravity on astronauts' physical health, such as loss of muscle and bone mass. By recreating the feelings of nature through virtual reality sounds, Vive Focus 3 can also contribute to the mental well-being of astronauts by providing a virtual escape to familiar and calming environments. This technological advancement demonstrates HTC's continued commitment to “innovating and using virtual reality to improve the lives of astronauts and humanity,” said Cher Wang, president and co-founder of HTC.
A word from Thomas Dexier, Associate Vice President of Enterprise Solutions at HTC Vive.
Thomas Dexier: Microgravity puts enormous strain on the human body. Loss of muscle mass and bone density is guaranteed. So astronauts have to exercise for two hours a day, and just to minimize the effects of microgravity, there is no prevention. And having to do something for two hours every day can be very monotonous and demoralizing. It is also important to note that the International Space Station is a very cramped and noisy environment. There are machines constantly in use and there is no way to get new landscapes! To create videos for the Vive Focus 3, Danish Aerospace filmed bike routes in Andreas' native Denmark and then adapted them to the efforts on the Fergo bike. Not only does he see his home country, but when he pedals faster, the images become faster. Likewise, the bike's resistance changes when going up a hill or riding on sand.
Futura: Has the “space therapy” of your VR headset shown positive effects during use?
Thomas Dexier: Instead of responding on behalf of HTC VIVE, we can share comments from Andreas Mogensen when he conducted a live Q&A session from the International Space Station with the Wild Nature Foundation on January 17th. Andreas said: “I miss the earth. Really. It's a beautiful sight to sit in the dome and look down on our blue planet, but it's not the same. I miss the warm sun. I miss the breeze. I miss the smell of grass and trees. I miss just opening a door and walking outside – yes, and the sound of nature. It's a very, very artificial laboratory that we're in. One of the experiences I have here is a virtual reality set that I use to refresh myself to help my psyche and it is really wonderful. One of the things I love about this VR set is the sound, the birds singing and the sound of the wind blowing through the reeds and leaves. I love it and I miss it. »
Futura: What are the upcoming developments for the VR headset?
Thomas Dexier: We can't go into too much detail, but it's really exciting to have already successfully completed two large experiments. We are optimistic that there will be further use cases for mental and physical health, and we are ready to see how we can support beyond these initial experiments, such as operating machines on the outside of the space station.
Futura: Is your VR headset used as part of NASA's Artemis program?
Thomas Dexier: We can't speak for NASA, but the US agency is well placed to see the results. NASA is already using Vive hardware at Johnson Space Center as part of basic training before astronauts fly into space.
Innovation in space: a VR headset to maintain astronauts' mental health
Article by Remy Decourt, published on November 11, 2023
The next mission to resupply the International Space Station with a SpaceXSpaceX Dragon cargo ship is planned in a few days. The equipment being sent to the astronauts includes a virtual reality headset from HTC, designed to protect the astronauts' mental health. This is a unique “space therapy” experience. It is the astronaut of the European Space Agency, the Dane Andreas Mogensen, who will test it in real conditions.
The health of astronauts in space is an important concern for space agencies. And it is being taken all the more seriously as the next phases of human exploration are being prepared – which will see humans living on the MoonMoon early in the next decade – and the first manned missions to Mars and an asteroid.
When it comes to astronaut health, there are many points to pay attention to. You should know that space travel has effects on the bones, muscles and several organs of the body, such as eye diseases, venous thrombosis, thrombosis or even sensory disorders combined with radiation and a change in the cardiovascular system. Astronauts' mental health is also affected when they are in orbit.
During a space mission, regardless of the duration, astronauts live in a certain isolation, a very unstimulating environment with repetitive tasks and perform stressful and tense work that can be mentally demanding but, above all, has the potential to lead to psychological disorders. Mental health.
Virtual reality for headsets to relieve pressure and stress
To remedy this situation, space agencies have planned a whole arsenal of preventative measures to counteract these undesirable effects. Specifically, astronauts commit to more or less relaxing physical activity, to good sleep and to periods of real relaxation with moments of communication that allow astronauts to stay in touch with their family and friends on Earth. “Technology” is a fantastic tool for this. To communicate, astronauts use space telephony, the Internet and video conferencing systems and, the latest innovation, virtual reality! The latter proves to be a tool that could become indispensable for future manned missions.
In space, Thomas Pesquet will be able to “teleport” himself to Earth on his bicycle
A unique space therapy
In this regard, Nord-Space Aps has launched a virtual mental balance support initiative aimed at meeting the specific needs of astronauts to maintain their mental health in orbit. This “space therapy” in virtual reality is carried out using the HTC VIVE Focus 3 headset with the simulator mode, specifically designed and adapted to operate in zero gravity. It is the European astronaut and Danish citizen Andreas Mogensen, currently on board the ISS as part of the Huginn mission, who will be the first astronaut in space to use a virtual reality headset for prevention.
A helmet configured to function properly in orbit
In the past, using a VR headset in zero gravity presented several tracking and orientation challenges, as the movement, rolling, and drifting of content caused nausea and made it difficult for astronauts to read the content contained within the helmet. In microgravity, there are no gravity vectors to align the orientation, which of course causes drift to the point where the VR headset becomes unusable and unstable. In previous projects with other VR headsets, tracking loss occurred after just a few minutes.
Nord-Space Aps, HTC and XRHealth therefore worked together to design a virtual reality platform that can be operated in space using a simulator mode and a special tracking method via the controllers. This headset, configured to be used in zero gravity conditions, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in virtual reality, was chosen over several other headsets.
For HTC, having its headset chosen by NASA, ESA, President and co-founder of HTC. As for Eran Orr, CEO of Critical.” For Per Lundahl Thomsen, Chief Technology Officer at Nord-Space Aps, creating a virtual platform that addresses the mental health needs of astronauts during their isolation is critical for them to to maintain a healthy lifestyle after returning to Earth.