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HoloLens experience “Destination: Mars” now open at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Written By published September 19, 2016



Earlier this year at Build 2016, we announced a partnership with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory that would bring a unique mixed reality experience with Microsoft HoloLens to life at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. “Destination: Mars” allows people the only opportunity possible today to walk around on the Red Planet, just as NASA scientists do today.

Kennedy Space Center, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Microsoft HoloLens executives join Dr. Buzz Aldrin for the ribbon cutting of “Destination: Mars” at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Kennedy Space Center, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Microsoft HoloLens executives join Dr. Buzz Aldrin for the ribbon cutting of “Destination: Mars” at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

On behalf of everyone on the HoloLens team, I am excited to share that “Destination: Mars” is now OPEN for guests to experience while visiting Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

Using Microsoft HoloLens, people can now visit several real sites on Mars, built using the same hi-res imagery from NASA’s Curiosity Mars Rover that scientists have used to learn about the Red Planet since August 2012. Buzz Aldrin, an Apollo 11 astronaut who walked on the moon, and a visionary advocate for Mars exploration, serves as your holographic tour guide of the planet. Erisa Hines, who is a driver for the Curiosity rover at NASA’S JPL, shows you how both the rover and Microsoft HoloLens can be used to discover new things about this amazing neighboring planet.

In celebration of “Destination: Mars” being open to space fans, yesterday the HoloLens team had the pleasure and privilege of attending a very special media preview. It was a unique experience getting to experience a trip to Mars with people like Buzz and Erisa who have dedicated their life to humans exploring and learning about space.

As exciting as the event was for us, we are even more excited to share “Destination: Mars” with the world as visitors of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex are able to experience it firsthand!

The Microsoft HoloLens team, NASA and JPL hope this experience in some small way will inspire the next generation of inter-planetary explorers!!

The experience is open to the public through Jan. 1, 2017. For more information and tickets, visit the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex website.

-Kudo
@kudotsunoda