Space Object Virtual Reality

Institution

Arizona State University (Tempe Campus)

Class

Iron Class (2018 – 2019)

Student Team

Guillermo Lopez, Computer Science
Austin McCleary, Computer Science
Aaron Roth, Computer Science
Tanner Siffren, Engineering Management and Computer Science
Charmaze Trinidad, Computer Science
Dunchuan Wu, Computer Science
Weichi Zhao, Computer Science

Scientific & Technical Guidance

Dr. Daniel Wenkert, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Academic Guidance

Dr. Daniel McCarville, Professor of Practice, ASU School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering
Dr. Ryan Meuth, Lecturer, Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering
Victor Surovec, ASU Mkr Services
Dr. Ming Zhao, Associate Professor, ASU School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering

Partner

Arizona State University Library mkrspace

Project Description

For this capstone project the team created a virtual reality experience on another planetary body in preparation for the return of Psyche data (so one could recreate the virtual reality experience for the asteroid as well). The team developed a virtual reality experience for Mars using the Oculus Rift. Mars data from the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter were used to create a virtual environment you can walk through.  They tested this with visitors to ASU’s Open Door on February 23, 2019. Once complete, this project will be made available to the public for download and use.

This image shows a rendered version of the surface of Mars as if you are standing on it, with craggy mountains in the distance.

A scene in the Space Object VR project.

This image shows a child using an Oculus Rift to try the Space Object VR experience.

Testing the Space Object VR project at ASU Open Door

This work was created in partial fulfillment of Arizona State University Capstone Courses “CSE 485-496″ and “IEE 485-486”. The work is a result of the Psyche Student Collaborations component of NASA’s Psyche Mission (https://psyche.asu.edu). “Psyche: A Journey to a Metal World” [Contract number NNM16AA09C] is part of the NASA Discovery Program mission to solar system targets. Trade names and trademarks of ASU and NASA are used in this work for identification only. Their usage does not constitute an official endorsement, either expressed or implied, by Arizona State University or National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of ASU or NASA.