NASA Lunar South Pole VR Simulation

During a Human Factors Engineering internship at NASA, I contributed to a VR simulation designed to help astronauts acclimate to the extreme and unfamiliar lighting conditions of the lunar south pole prior to mission operations. The lunar south pole presents unique lighting challenges — near-permanent shadows, extremely low sun angles, and high-contrast terrain — that differ significantly from environments astronauts typically train in.

My contributions focused on designing and implementing the interactions astronauts would use within the simulation environment, as well as contributing to the broader development of the experience. The project required close collaboration with human factors specialists and mission planners to ensure the simulation accurately reflected the operational context astronauts would encounter.

Stack: VR, Varjo XR-4, Unreal Engine 5