ESA Details Wider Use of XR in Space Activities
The European Space Agency has outlined how extended reality technologies are being used across a range of space-related activities. The agency said the systems support training, operational work, and public engagement. ESA also presented new tools intended to expand access to XR development within the sector.
ESA described extended reality, or XR, as a broad category of technologies that combine digital content with real-world environments in different ways. The agency stated that these systems allow users to experience space-related settings remotely through headsets that transform surrounding environments into immersive digital spaces linked to space exploration and research.
According to ESA, XR technologies are already being applied in laboratories and operational settings connected to the space sector. The agency said the systems support activities, including training exercises, operational preparation, and public-facing experiences. ESA stated that these applications are intended to make aspects of space exploration more accessible outside specialist facilities.
ESA explained that virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality each form part of the wider XR category. Virtual reality was described as technology that places users inside a fully digital environment and separates them from their physical surroundings. Augmented reality overlays digital elements onto the real world. Mixed reality combines physical and digital spaces and allows interaction between them.
The agency stated that these distinctions help define the different ways users can engage with space concepts, simulations, and collaborative activities. ESA also noted that XR technologies have existed for several years and are already supporting applications connected to space operations and research programmes.
The organisation indicated that broader use of XR may depend on making the technology easier to access and simpler to use in everyday settings. ESA stated that reducing current barriers could contribute to a gradual increase in adoption across internal operations and public programmes linked to the agency’s work.
ESA also highlighted the release of the ESA XR Plugin by the Extended Reality Competence Centre, known as XR-CC. The plugin was developed using Unreal Engine and OpenXR. ESA said the system is intended to simplify the creation of XR applications for space-related projects.
The agency described the toolkit as a flexible system that allows companies and independent developers to create their own XR components. ESA stated that developers can retain commercial rights over their work. The agency also said the plugin is available to secondary school pupils and university students, offering opportunities to participate in XR development linked to space activities.
The release of the toolkit forms part of ESA’s broader use of digital technologies within its operational and research work. The agency said the plugin is designed to support the development of XR applications. ESA added that contributors can build projects using a shared technical framework.
ESA also referred to the ESA XR Universe, a project under development intended to support shared interaction within virtual environments. The initiative is designed to allow multiple users to operate inside the same digital space simultaneously. ESA said this would create collaborative, immersive experiences tied to its activities.
According to the agency, an initial pilot version of the ESA XR Universe will be introduced for internal use. ESA stated that the early deployment is expected to support collaborative design reviews, the assessment of scientific outcomes, and decision-making processes related to Earth observation work. The organisation said this phase will take place before any wider release.
ESA stated that the project is intended to support interaction between users working on shared tasks in virtual environments connected to space operations and research. The agency indicated that public access to the platform is planned only after the completion of its initial internal phase.
The agency’s overview presented XR technologies as part of its broader digital infrastructure supporting operational requirements and public engagement activities. ESA stated that existing and developing XR systems are being integrated into areas such as training, collaboration, and remote interaction with space-related environments and information.
