The Japanese space agency JAXA has announced the launch of the world’s first Space Digital Twin project, which aims to create an open digital analogue of its module for the ISS. The digital double will contain data on temperature, humidity, air, and lighting collected in the Japanese Kibo module for the ISS. This information will allow researchers and companies to replicate the module’s atmosphere in a virtual environment, providing a unique platform for testing space ideas and technologies at minimal costs.
In addition to recreating the module, the project will also virtually replicate the Int-Ball drone used in the Kibo module. JAXA sees this aspect of the project as a valuable simulator for testing space robotics, opening up new possibilities for technology development suitable for zero gravity environments.
The creation of this digital double will provide a virtual test site for experiments and technologies, reducing costs and simplifying the process of verifying concepts for companies involved in space projects. This eliminates the need for costly launches and equipment maintenance in real space, which is particularly beneficial for startups and young enterprises.
Despite the ISS’s planned conclusion in 2030, JAXA’s project will continue. NASA will transition to utilizing commercial stations for research and habitat in low-earth orbit. The digital double created by JAXA will help predict the outcomes of future space projects and could be beneficial for a wide range of industries, from video games to streaming services and even virtual tourism. The agency believes the project could also lay the groundwork for new types of space businesses that have yet to be imagined.