A VR headset on the ISS really makes a difference for astronaut exercise
Astronauts can now get a bit of simulated fresh air while working out in space. A new virtual-reality (VR) headset paired with a new exercise bike lets International Space Station (ISS) astronauts experience their favourite cycling routes on Earth. Denmark’s Andreas Mogensen, for example, has five routes to choose from in locations ranging from Copenhagen to Svanninge Bakker. “It’s actually one of my absolute favourite activities on board the space station,” Mogensen, commander of the ISS’ current Expedition 70 and a European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, said. “It really makes a difference. There’s something about when you see yourself biking up a hill in the virtual-reality headset; you just have more motivation to pedal a little bit harder.”
The HTC VIVE Focus 3 adds to a growing set of VR gear on the ISS aiming to help astronauts maintain their mental health in space, where crowded conditions, separation from friends and family and an intense schedule can contribute to feelings of loneliness. “I absolutely love it. It also connects me with nature,” Mogensen added of the VR exercise gear. “I feel like I’m out in the countryside biking, and it’s just wonderful. We live on the space station, which is a very synthetic environment. We can’t go outside. We’re not in contact with nature. This is as close as it gets. I use it every single time I exercise on the bike.”