Spatially Immersive Visualization of On-orbit Operations would allow a group of viewers, each wearing stereoscopic glasses, to be virtually immersed into a visually projected cubical environment which emulates either a simulated or a real-time on-orbit phase of a shuttle mission. This system would be the first time in which real-time shuttle telemetry would be employed to drive a spatially immersive virtual environment. Using very high-end graphics workstations and the unique projection display, ground personnel would be able to experience virtual EVAs, RMS activities, orbiter maneuvers, payload deployments, and rendezvous operations, etc. The viewers could fly to any virtual viewpoint desired. This would allow direct inspection of solar blockage constraints, payload clearances, and other contingency analysis.The cubical projection environment, known as the CAVE, provides a "Virtual Reality Theater" in which scientific content may be visualized in stereo. It is comprised from three rear-projection screens for walls and a down-projection screen for the floor. Each dimension is 10 feet providing sufficient space to hold multiple viewers. Projectors throw full-color workstation 1024x768 at 96HZ onto the screens. A user's head and hands are tracked with Ascension Flock-of-Birds tethered electromagnetic sensors. Stereographics' LCD stereo shutter glasses are used to separate the alternate fields going to the eyes.
Potential Commercial Applications:NASA, DOD, Satellite communications companies
