The role of the Metaverse in the future of the space sector

• Authors: COHEN Jacob; GREEN James; ABDALA Lucas Novelino; BELLOCINE Stephane; COSTA Inaldo Capistrano; FACCHINETTI Giovanni; FAYET-MOORE Flavia; GHOSH Ayush; MARIE-LOUISE Hohenbühel; JUNIOR Jose Daniel Reis; LAMBERT Marie; MAN Li; PRASAD Kali; RÁČKOVÁ Lucie; RIU Georgina; RODRIGUES Douglas; SILVA Alexandre Ferreira da; SREEKUMAR Sreejith; WISEMAN Brittany; SARODE Aashish; PEREIRAS Maria Cecilia
• Year of publication: 2023
• Description: The Metaverse is the convergence of the physical and digital worlds utilizing technology and bringing people together. Technology like Extended Reality (XR), which is comprised of Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR), are used to create rendered 3D virtual environments where individuals can interact, play games, and learn. XR is a transformative technology that has many applications. Broadly, XR aims to enhance human functions, and as space exploration continues to rapidly expand, the Metaverse offers creative solutions that can complement existing technology and revolutionize the space sector. This team project analyzed and proposed uses of the Metaverse in the space sector and addresses its major applications in (1) Space Operations (2) Space Engineering and Design (3) Healthcare (4) Astronaut Training (5) Space Tourism (6) Outreach & Space-Based Education and (7) Earth Sustainability. As advancements in AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Blockchain, and other technologies improve, the benefits for these sectors are unprecedented. However, to increase its user adoption, lingering challenges must be addressed. The system design must be improved to enhance the user experience, such as making the headsets more comfortable to wear, along with enhanced graphics. Additionally, technical standards must be developed and employed, and IT challenges such as network latency, Wi-Fi, and Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) constraints must be met. Further, legal and policy concerns for matters such as digital theft, virtual crime, intelligent property infringement, privacy, and liability must be addressed. Ultimately, this project demonstrates how, despite existing challenges, the use of the Metaverse can revolutionize and enhance our capabilities for space exploration. We also propose a roadmap that encompasses past, present, and projected future uses of the Metaverse, as it applies to space.