Lunar Surface VR/ARGOS Trainer

Completed TRL 7 (started at 6, targeting 7)

Description

The Lunar Surface VR/ARGOS Trainer project aims to provide a digital representation of the lunar south pole for risk reduction, training and engineering design evaluation. This digital environment can be combined with a human-rated gravity off-load system and a mockup of the lander porch and ladder to simulate an initial egress from a lander to the lunar surface.

Benefits

The potential addition of a human-rated motion platform for rover operation and a cross-center VR network infrastructure allows for collaboration for design, analysis, and mission planning. The use of state-of-the-art virtual reality hardware, a 6 degree-of-freedom gravity off-load system, and integrated physical mockups provides a unique capability not found anywhere else in industry or academia.

Details

Technology area	Software, Modeling, Simulation, and Information Processing > Simulation > Simulation-Based Training and Decision Support Systems
Program	Center Innovation Fund: JSC CIF (JSC CIF)
Lead organization	Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
Start date	2020-10-01
End date	2021-09-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Lee K Bingham — lee.k.bingham@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is a mature technology (TRL 7) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.