What is the 'Virtual' experiment on the ISS?

The 'Virtual' experiment is a medical study aboard the ISS designed to understand how zero gravity affects a cosmonaut's ability to track moving objects and maintain spatial orientation.

How do cosmonauts participate in the 'Virtual' experiment?

Cosmonauts wear virtual reality glasses to track a marker on a screen, while sensors record their eye movements to collect data on their tracking performance in zero gravity.

What equipment is used in the second stage of the 'Virtual' experiment?

The second stage of the 'Virtual' experiment, which began in 2023, utilizes entirely domestic Russian equipment and software for its operations on the ISS.

Home / Science / Cosmonauts Track Objects in Space with VR

Cosmonauts Track Objects in Space with VR

31 Jan

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Summary

ISS crew studies zero gravity's effect on visual tracking.
VR glasses help cosmonauts track moving objects in space.
New experiment uses Russian-made equipment and software.

Cosmonauts Track Objects in Space with VR

On January 31, 2026, the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) is actively engaged in the second phase of the 'Virtual' experiment. This crucial medical research investigates the effects of zero gravity on human visual perception and spatial orientation during space missions.

The experiment involves a cosmonaut wearing virtual reality glasses to track a moving marker on a screen. The marker's movement can vary in speed, direction, and include visual interference. Specialized sensors capture the cosmonaut's eye movements, gathering data on tracking accuracy and reliability.