Utilizing Augmented Reality for Immersive Space Mission Design

Designing spacecraft mission trajectories is a complex, tedious, and stringent process that requires a strong background in astrodynamics and programming due to the complex dynamical environment of space. The current 2D visualization methods for displaying these geometrically abstract trajectories make it difficult to understand the true nature of more complex orbits. Advancements in immersive headsets and their intuitive interaction capabilities make them ideal for solving and understanding 3D problems that require complex spatial representations, revealing an innovative and unique opportunity for the astrodynamics and space mission planning field. This effort covers the development of an immersive space mission design tool designed to utilize intuitive interactions and 3D spatial display to streamline the design process of spacecraft mission trajectories, and analyze the usefulness of these headsets in the niche world of spacecraft operations and design.