Virtual reality as training aid for manual spacecraft docking

Abstract The ability to manually dock a spacecraft to a space station can be crucial for astronauts during space missions. The computer-based self-learning program 6df is an abstract docking simulation for acquisition and maintenance of the underlying skill to control six degrees of freedom. One of the difficulties of this complex task is to construct a mental representation of the own position and orientation in space, based only on two-dimensional information. To facilitate this and possibly further improve the learning process, a new three-dimensional (3D) stereoscopic presentation of the program is tested. This study investigates whether there is faster learning progress with 3D presentation compared to standard 2D presentation. 24 participants of the Artificial Gravity Bed Rest Study with ESA (AGBRESA) participated in the 6df docking experiment. Each of them completed 20 training sessions which lasted approximately 45 min and were conducted twice a week. The learning program is self-sufficient and adapts itself to individual learning speed. Half of the participants were presented with an UNITY-based stereoscopic visualization of docking, whereas the other half used the standard 2D version of the learning program 6df. Learning progress was measured as the number of tasks needed to reach a target task in the middle of the learning range. Results overall indicate a slightly faster learning progress when using 3D technology, but no long-term performance advantages. The small benefit might not justify the usage of costlier and operationally limiting 3D systems. Limitations and further research needs are discussed.