Crewmembers aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will get their hands on Microsoft's HoloLens, a virtual reality headset.
According to ABC News, two pairs of the headsets will be aboard a Dragon capsule that SpaceX will send up to the ISS on a resupply mission. NASA will test how the headsets could possibly contribute to deep space journeys.
In the event astronauts are not able to communication with mission managers on Earth as quickly as possible, the HoloLens virtual reality headsets could allow them more autonomy for important decisions.
"HoloLens and other virtual and mixed reality devices are cutting edge technologies that could help drive future exploration and provide new capabilities to the men and women conducting critical science on the International Space Station," Sam Scimemi, director of the ISS program at NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C., said in a press release. "This new technology could also empower future explorers requiring greater autonomy on the journey to Mars."
Accompanying the HoloLens headsets will be a device called the Sidekick, which can either put an astronaut in contact with someone on the ground or show them prerecorded directions for various tasks.
Microsoft unveiled the HoloLens device at their Windows 10 launch event earlier this year, but the company has not put the headset on the market yet.
"Microsoft HoloLens is about transforming the ways you create, connect, and explore," Alex Kipman, a technical fellow at Windows and Devices Group at Microsoft, said in the release. "Sidekick is a prime example of an application for which we envisioned HoloLens being used - unlocking new potential for astronauts and giving us all a new perspective on what is possible with holographic computing."
