PaleBlue has been awarded a contract to develop VR technology to support the development of Lunar Gateway space station. The company will work with the Lunar Gateway consortium in order to create tools for human-centric design verification of Lunar Gateway, ensuring the usability and ergonomics of the station for the astronauts.

This work follows years of close collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and PaleBlue. The first project between the two entities launched in 2019, and has led to creation of an astronaut VR training solution for the International Space Station. The training system has been in continuous development since then, and has recently been used in training several astronauts, such as Marcus Wandt. Through the years, the development has been supported by the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA), ESA, and Innovation Norway.

PaleBlue has built a unique simulation engine for simulating Zero Gravity. The engine, when combined with a 3D digital twin of a space station, such as the ISS, allows astronauts to understand the principles of navigation and motion in Zero G; to get familiar with the station layout, equipment, procedures and emergencies; and to build resilience to motion sickness in weightlessness.

This simulation platform of PaleBlue will now be applied to the Lunar Gateway, which is to be the first international space station around the Moon. This space station will support the most distant human space missions ever attempted, as part of the Artemis program.

The Lunar Gateway is a multinational collaborative project: participants include NASA, the ESA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC).

In a visit to the Astronaut Training Centre EAC in Cologne, Germany, PaleBlue has conducted a workshop on the simulation platform with ESA, discussing the existing features of the platform, as well as the requirements for spacecraft design review tools in VR.

For PaleBlue, this Lunar Gateway project takes place in parallel to the ongoing work of creating a robust VR training solution for astronauts, an initiative that was commenced in 2022.

We are very excited to further expand the capabilities of our Zero Gravity VR simulation platform, adding the support for design reviews and engineering verifications. Joining together to work with Lunar Gateway is an endorsement of our technology and our capabilities as a company. With this milestone, our training and design review tools span a number of segments from subsea to space, establishing PaleBlue as an innovator in the simulation market.Felix Gorbatsevich, PaleBlue CEO

Together with our industrial partner, PaleBlue, we have successfully utilized their technology in the context of crew training for the ISS. By integrating VR/XR technology with the Zero-G simulator, we are opening new avenues for example for Human-In-The-Loop simulations. This chapter highlights how these novel technologies are being employed during the design phase of space modules, facilitating hardware manufacturing and system reviews.Lionel Ferra, Head of software and AI, Directorate of Human Spaceflight and Exploration at ESA

High tech astronaut training solutions are key to human spaceflight. The PaleBlue training solution for the International Space Station has been well received and we are very pleased to see these capabilities being further developed and expanded to Gateway. This confirms the PaleBlue position as a leading technology provider in their field.Arvid Bertheau Johannessen, Lead for Human Spaceflight and Exploration at NOSA

About PaleBlue
PaleBlue is a VR technology company, which has established a unique set of capabilities within 3D, VR, and multi-user experiences, used in simulation training environments. The company builds on a 20+ years experience track of building 3D and training simulation systems for the energy industry, including crane training, underwater robot simulators, drilling operation simulators, and more.

About EAC
The European Astronaut Centre (EAC) was established in 1990 and is located near Cologne, Germany. EAC has established itself as a center of excellence for astronaut selection, training, medical support, and surveillance, as well as support of astronauts and their families through preparation for and during flight.

About ESA
The European Space Agency is an intergovernmental organization of 22 member states dedicated to the exploration of space.

About the Norwegian Space Agency
The Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA) is a Norwegian government agency that follows Norway’s public space activities. The agency was established as the Norwegian Space Centre in 1987 in conjunction with Norway’s decision to join the European Space Agency (ESA). It functions as an agency of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry.