In Space, a Laptop Doubles As a VR Headset

Nerval's Lobster writes: On Earth, the engineers and developers in charge of building the Oculus Rift and other virtual-reality headsets are concerned about weight: Who wants to strap on something so heavy it cricks their neck? But in space, weight isn't an issue, which is why an astronaut can strap a laptop to his head via a heavy and complicated-looking rig and use it as a virtual-reality device. NASA astronaut Terry Virts recently did just that to train himself in the use of SAFER (Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue), a jetpack worn during spacewalks. (In the movie Gravity, George Clooney's character uses a highly unrealistic version of SAFER to maneuver around a space shuttle.)

Comments

Clooney is using an MMU, not a SAFER in Gravity

[Anonymous Coward]

Clooney's character in Gravity is using an updated version of the old Martin-Marietta MMU, Manned Maneuvering Unit, originally used on some early Shuttle missions. It is not, no way, no how, a "highly unrealistic version of SAFER" as the idiot poster suggests. SAFER is a highly stripped down, emergency-only version of the MMU -- it compares to the MMU the way a life preserver compares to an inflatable boat with an outboard. (The wikipedia article on SAFER calls it " a small, simplified version of the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), which was used for regular maneuvering." )

The device used in the movie is an upgraded version of the MMU apparently with greater fuel reserves (possibly using chemical rockets rather than pressurized nitrogen thrusters).

Re:inertia?

[Guspaz]

You're still moving that mass, regardless of how it's mounted on the head.