Dave Lavery, program executive for the Mars Science Laboratory mission, said “OnSight gives our rover scientists the ability to walk around and explore Mars right from their offices. It fundamentally changes our perception of Mars, and how we understand the Mars environment surrounding the rover.”
Before HoloLens, scientists were left to look at images on a screen and wonder what they were seeing., and trying to make sense of it. with OnSight and HoloLens, they can now experience the red planet in a 3D environment, and collaborate with other scientists across the world. It will also allow scientists to experience Mars more as explorers and less like observers. OnSight testing will occur later this year with Curiosity. Microsoft and NASA may also include OnSight on Mars 2020 rover operations, as well as other (real, not virtual) journeys to Mars.
