NASA has developed an application that will bring the life to some of the agency’s spacecraft that will be available for free to the iPhone and iPad users with 3-D experience.
The application has been named as Spacecraft 3D that uses animation to display how the spacecrafts can move and manipulate their outside components.
In the initial phase, the new app developed by NASA will feature two of the NASA missions namely the Curiosity rover that will roll down on Mars Aug. 6 at 1:31 a.m. EDT, and the twin GRAIL spacecraft Ebb and Flow, which is currently orbiting the moon.
"With Spacecraft 3D and a mobile device, you can put high definition, three-dimensional models literally into the hands of kids of all ages," said Stephen Kulczycki, deputy director for communications and education at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif.
This application 'Spacecraft 3D' is amongst the first augmented-reality apps especially developed for Apple devices. Augmented-reality enables the users to have a view of the real-world environment with 3-D experience in which the elements are enhanced by additional input.
Spacecraft 3D uses the iPhone or iPad camera to spread the information on the device's main screen. The app will instruct the users to print an augmented reality target on a standard sheet of paper. When the device's camera will point the target, the spacecraft chosen by the will appear on the screen.
"Let's say you want to get an idea what our Curiosity Mars rover is all about," said Kevin Hussey, manager of visualization technology at PL.
"Like Hollywood directors sizing up their next shot, you move your camera-equipped iPad or iPhone in and out, up and down and the spacecraft perspective moves with you. It is a great way to study the-D nature of NASA spacecraft," he explained.
In the Spacecraft 3D app also has a feature that allows you to take your own augmented-reality picture of the rover or GRAIL spacecraft. In addition to that, you can also make a self-portrait with a spacecraft, placing yourself or someone else in the image.
"In the near future, we will incorporate the Cassini spacecraft, which is orbiting Saturn, the Dawn spacecraft, which is deep in the heart of the asteroid belt, and the Voyagers, which are right now at the very edge of our solar system," said Hussey.
"Looking down the road, we've got a veritable solar system full of spacecraft to work with," he added.
Presently, the Spacecraft 3D has been made available only available for Apple formats, but is likely to be available for the other formats in the near future.
The detailed models for computer of the spacecraft that is used in Spacecraft 3D were originally generated for NASA's "Eyes on the Solar System" web application.
"Eyes on the Solar System" is a 3-D environment full of NASA mission data that enables anyone to explore the cosmos from their computer.
-with inputs from ANI
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