Experience the Hera Asteroid Mission in VR
Blast Off From Your Living Room: ESA’s Hera Asteroid Mission Goes Virtual
Free App Lets users explore Spacecraft and Journey to Dimorphos
(NewsDirectory3.com) – Ever dreamed of piloting your own spaceship? While owning a real spacecraft might be out of reach, a new free app lets you experience the next best thing. Launching today, “Guardians of Earth” transports users into the heart of ESA’s Hera asteroid mission, allowing them to explore the spacecraft and follow its journey to the asteroid Dimorphos.Available for Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest 3, and Meta Quest 3S, the app was developed by Italian startup DIVE in collaboration with ESA’s hera mission team.
“This app is a fantastic Christmas gift, allowing people to learn about and interact with our mission in a totally new and immersive way,” says Hera mission manager Ian Carnelli. ”This was a dream project for DIVE founder Luca De Dominicis, who sadly recently passed away, yet whose vision for making space exploration accessible to everyone continues through this collaboration.”
DIVE CEO Michaelangelo Mochi adds, “Partnering with ESA is a journey we cherish deeply. We are proud to work alongside an organization that shares our vision and commitment to exploration.”
Launched last October, Hera is ESA’s first planetary defense mission. Its goal: to visit Dimorphos, the first asteroid to have its orbit altered by human action. By gathering close-up data about Dimorphos, which was impacted by NASA’s DART spacecraft in 2022, Hera will help turn asteroid deflection into a well-understood and potentially repeatable technique.
A Virtual Space Odyssey
“Guardians of Earth” takes users on a remarkable journey. they can assemble the Hera spacecraft piece by piece, discover its advanced instrumentation, and experience key space travel technologies. Through the involvement of video game studio 34BigThings, the app offers a 360-degree immersive experience, projecting users into the cosmos with Hera, bringing them face-to-face with celestial bodies encountered along the way.The app is available for free on the App Store for Apple Vision Pro and on the Meta Quest Store for Meta Quest 3 and 3S.
Want to learn More? Ask Hera Directly!
For those who want to delve even deeper into the Hera mission, there’s the Hera space Companion. This interactive AI-powered assistant, developed by Terra Mater Studios, Impact AI, and Microsoft Austria in collaboration with ESA, provides facts about the mission and real-time data from space.
So, strap in and prepare for liftoff! The Hera mission is now within everyone’s reach.
Breaking Barriers: Interview with Michaelangelo Mochi,CEO of DIVE,on the Hera Mission App
NewsDirectory3.com: Michaelangelo, thanks for joining us too discuss this exciting new app bringing the Hera mission to life. DIVE has a clear passion for making space exploration accessible. How did this collaboration with ESA come about?
Michaelangelo Mochi: It was truly a dream project for DIVE, and a journey we cherish deeply. Our founder, Luca De Dominicis, was incredibly passionate about making space exploration accessible to everyone. Partnering with ESA, an organization that shares our vision and commitment to exploration, is a testament to Luca’s vision coming to fruition.
NewsDirectory3.com: “Guardians of Earth” offers a truly immersive experience, allowing users to virtually assemble the Hera spacecraft and even encounter celestial bodies along its journey. What role did 34BigThings play in developing such a compelling experience?
Michaelangelo Mochi: 34BigThings brought their expertise in game development to the table,creating a 360-degree immersive experience. They were instrumental in ensuring that users feel truly transported into space alongside Hera, bringing a level of interactivity and realism that is truly groundbreaking.
NewsDirectory3.com: Luca De Dominicis’s vision of making space exploration accessible sadly ended prematurely. How does this launch serve as a tribute to his legacy?
Michaelangelo Mochi: This app is a living testament to Luca’s unwavering belief in the power of immersive experiences to inspire and educate. Despite his passing, his spirit continues to fuel our work, and we are honored to see his vision realized through this collaboration with ESA. “Guardians of Earth” is not just an app – it’s a tribute to his dedication to making the wonders of space exploration accessible to everyone.