A review on the use of immersive technology in space research

Abstract

Immersive technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), create digital experiences by merging real and virtual worlds, offering enhanced spatial engagement and sensory immersion. This study examines immersive technologies’ possible advancements to space research, along with application examples in data visualization, astronaut training, and mission planning. Based on the analysis of 44 papers, immersive technologies can assist in diverse areas as varied as procedure guidance, astronaut training, and health-related aspects involving using devices such as HTC Vive, Microsoft HoloLens, and Oculus. The most critical challenges are, by far, difficulties in the selection of participants for research, authenticity in the representation of virtual environments, and technical problems. Overall, our findings indicate the utility of immersive systems through enhanced effects, mostly in training, data interpretation, and human-machine interaction. Future research should involve the continuation of studies using larger sample sizes, interoperability, computational power, user comfort, and machine learning.