$1.2 Million Award Supports Astronaut Exploration and Safety

A University of Houston College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics alumnus is the Principal Investigator in cutting-edge technology that could revolutionize astronaut training and medical procedures worldwide. Dr. Jose Daniel Velazco-Garcia and his team at Houston-based Tietronix Software Inc. are working with NASA on an immersive extended reality (XR) project.

The team’s work aims to serve as a toolkit for astronauts in future lunar or Martian missions, allowing them to gain hands-on experience performing critical activities in space without putting themselves in life-threatening situations.

The foundation of Velazco-Garcia’s NASA project is based on his PhD research at the UH. As a Small Business Technology Transfer academic partner, UH received $325,000 of the $1.275 million grant for the university’s role in the project, called “Shared Immersive XR Hyper-Realistic Environment for Extravehicular Activity Surface Operations.” Computer Science Professor Nikolaos Tsekos, who co-mentored Velazco-Garcia with Computer Science Professor Ernst Leiss, is the academic PI and continues to work with Daniel on this initiative.

Technology Used for Space Exploration Training

The program created by Velazco-Garcia and Tsekos uses augmented and virtual realities (AR/VR) to support training missions for manned space vehicles and planetary surface habitats.

“The most important aspect of this NASA project is that, by using technologies like AR/VR, we can enhance astronaut preparation before they go to the moon,” said Velazco-Garcia. “They have to memorize and follow procedures precisely because their lives are at risk.”

Velazco-Garcia’s goal is for astronauts and scientists on Earth to use AR/VR technology during training missions to prepare and guide astronauts for similar missions in space.

Velazco-Garcia and Tsekos, along with a team of students, are also developing software to understand natural language and enhance the framework of the application being used in the NASA program.

From the Operation Room to the Moon and Beyond

Before they applied their ideas to space exploration, Velazco-Garcia and Tsekos envisioned this program to help medical professionals with diagnosis, interventional or surgical procedures and training.

Under prior NSF funding, the team developed the foundational framework to visualize medical procedures, allowing surgeons and physicians to prepare and perform procedures more safely. AR/VR technologies can be used to simulate patients requiring a broad range of interventional procedures that the physician can experience and practice, which would be helpful for training.

As his mentor, Tsekos applauds Velasco-Garcia’s work in the lab. “He’s exceptional,” said Tsekos. “Daniel is the ultimate example of someone who wants to solve problems and help people who need it.” The two hope the technology can save lives.

- Ashley Byers, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics