The U.S. Space Force has signed an agreement with Microsoft to develop a virtual interactive model of space for personnel training
The US Space Force has signed a $19.8 million deal with Microsoft to create a training environment that combines virtual and mixed reality. This contract opens the way for the well-known tech giant to tap into the rapidly growing military simulation market and expand the use of its Azure cloud platform and HoloLens technology in the space domain.
The one-year contract, announced on January 5, provides for the continuation of work on an augmented reality tool that Microsoft developed last year for the Space Systems Command in Los Angeles.
The project, dubbed I3E (Integrated, Immersive, Intelligent Environment), includes Microsoft’s HoloLens augmented reality glasses, the Azure cloud platform, and a framework for creating shared experiences in augmented reality. Together, these technologies provide an interactive model of space with precisely scaled orbiting objects that users can manipulate in real time to explore and simulate space dynamics.
With I3E, Space Force personnel have access to satellite physical behavior modeling, intelligence analysis tools, and space war games. According to Col. Richard Kniseley, senior logistics manager, Commercial Space Directorate, Space Systems Command, “This technology provides an unparalleled experience for a better understanding of the space industry.”
Using the I3E system for training, Space Force personnel note that it provides a unique insight into the dynamics of space. “To pick up the glasses and visually interact with the planet and satellites, gaining a deeper understanding of space, was an amazing experience,” said First Lieutenant Jordan Savage of SSC’s Information Mobility Branch.
