IT Home reported on January 10 that the U.S. Space Force (Us.Space Force) recently signed a $19.8 million contract with Microsoft Corporation to co-develop virtual and mixed reality training environments. The agreement not only allows Microsoft to tap into the booming military simulation market, but also extends the reach of the Azure cloud into space.
The one-year contract is to continue the development of an augmented reality space simulation tool that Microsoft began developing last year for Space Systems Command in Los Angeles. Dubbed the "Integrated Immersive Intelligent Environment" (i3E), the system leverages Microsoft's HoloLens headset, Azure cloud platform, and Grid Framework to build a shared AR experience, according to IT Home. Together, these technologies create an interactive model of space with accurately modeled orbital objects that users can manipulate in real-time.
U.S. Space Systems Command's Office of Commercial Space (Systems Command'Richard Kniseley, senior head of munitions at S Commercial Space Office, said the i3E agreement gives members of the Space Force access to physics-based satellite behavior modeling, intelligence analysis tools and space warfare games.
"This technology provides an unparalleled experience for a better understanding of the space domain," Kniseley said in a press release. We need to seize every opportunity to partner with the industry to keep our members ahead of the curve in this fast-moving environment. ”
According to members of the Space Force who have trained with the i3E, the system can provide unique insight into the dynamics of space. Jordan S**age, a lieutenant in SSC's Information Mobility Division, said, "It's amazing to be able to visually interact with planets and satellites and understand space on a deeper level. ”