The US Space Systems Command (SSC) has renewed its partnership with Microsoft as it builds an augmented reality (AR) space simulation.
That simulation will provide an “immersive intelligent environment” (I3E) and feature orbital objects – including planets and satellites – that users can interact with via a HoloLens headset.
The Space Force will pay $19.8MN over one year to secure the scaled environment, with the option for three more years of Azure-driven mixed reality.
Moreover, Microsoft Azure will host the environment within its commercial and government clouds, with classified and unclassified entry requirements, depending on the mission’s context.
While the price point may not seem like a huge number – especially as the SSC’s annual space acquisition budget is $15BN – it’s a big win for HoloLens after the tech giant shelved its Windows Mixed Reality business.
After all, such contracts may help Microsoft make clear that HoloLens is alive and well.
Yet, Jason Zander, EVP of Strategic Missions and Technologies at Microsoft, kept the focus on how the tech giant can meet diverse, developing customer needs. He said:
This modernization journey presents an opportunity to deepen our relationship as we support the US Space Force in adopting state-of-the-art solutions to more rapidly to meet their evolving mission needs.
That mission is well underway, as the deal represents a follow-up from the Immersive Digital Facility (IDF) prototype the two organizations successfully developed earlier this year.
Moreover, the Space Force has begun to train its team members – or “Guardians” – on the system, as the lead image showcases.
Ultimately, the aim is to ensure these guardians have greater “situational awareness” over adversaries so they may act with greater velocity.
“Continuing the development and deployment of the I3E is going to pay huge dividends for our Guardians,” added Col. Richard Kniseley, Senior Materiel Leader for the Commercial Space Office at the SSC.
I’m blown away watching our young Guardians interact with the cutting-edge technology the I3E offers. Linking numerous sites together through the robust digital ecosystem provides an unrivaled experience to better understand the space domain.
Yet, this is only the start of the use of HoloLens in the US military, with the army also placing a new order for HoloLens devices.
That news comes after Microsoft tweaked the headset to ensure users are less prone to headaches and nausea.
For more insights into the strides Microsoft is making in the XR space – after shuttering its Windows Mixed Reality business – check out our article: Will Microsoft Claim the Metaverse Crown in 2024?
