The International Space Station will soon provide a research facility for studying the long-term effects of microgravity on living systems. These life science experiments will be performed in the Space Station Glovebox Facility—a compact, fully contained reach-in environment where astronauts will handle animals and other organisms, perform experimental assays and collect biological samples. Many of these experiments will require the use of the Life Sciences Glovebox Facility (LSG) (See Figure 1). Within the LSG, astronauts must manipulate scientific instruments, conduct experimental assays, collect tissue specimens and perform micro dissections—all under highly controlled conditions and within strict time constraints. The experiments will demand very detailed training and knowledge of instrumentation, anatomy and specific scientific objectives. To be successful, astronauts must remain highly proficient in these experimental techniques, but due to scheduling constraints they can receive only limited Earth-based training with real LSG mock-ups and real experimental specimens.

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 Figure 1: The Space Station Glovebox Facility.

In order to maximize the return from biological research in space utilizing the LSG facility, an immersive virtual environment simulation system called the “Virtual GloveboX” (VGX)  is under development at the NASA Ames Research Center (See Figure 2). This “Virtual GloveboX” (VGX) is designed to integrate high resolution imaging technology, force-feedback devices, high-fidelity graphics and real-time computer simulation engines to provide a realistic, fully immersive training environment. With the VGX, gravity can be turned on and off, allowing astronauts to perform experiments in a simulated microgravity environment while still on Earth.

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 Figure 2: The Virtual GloveboX (Dr. Boyle, BioVIS director, is experimenting with a "virtual" rat).