NASA Surface Data VR – Mars Assist!

INSTITUTION

Arizona State University (ASU)

CLASS

Iridium Class (2024 – 2025)

STUDENT TEAM

ACADEMIC GUIDANCE

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This project aims to develop an immersive and interactive virtual reality (VR) simulation that
accurately recreates the surfaces of celestial bodies, serving as an educational tool to promote
awareness of the Psyche Mission and inspire public enthusiasm for space exploration.
Designed for use in museums, research centers, and public events, the project seeks to engage
audiences and ignite curiosity about planetary science and exploration.
The current iteration of the simulation features an exploration of the Martian surface, focusing
on a terrain accurate depiction of the surface area and surroundings of the Gale Crater and
Mount Sharp. Future development goals include integrating interactive elements such as
engaging activities, informative prompts, and detailed 3D models to enrich the experience and
make it both educational and enjoyable for users.

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This work was created in partial fulfillment of the Arizona State University Capstone Course “CSE 485/486”. The work is a result of the Psyche Student Collaborations component of NASA’s Psyche Mission (https://psyche.ssl.berkeley.edu). “Psyche: A Journey to a Metal World” [Contract number NNM16AA09C] is part of the NASA Discovery Program mission to solar system targets. Trade names and trademarks of ASU and NASA are used in this work for identification only. Their usage does not constitute an official endorsement, either expressed or implied, by Arizona State University or National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of ASU or NASA.