11:17, 12 January 2026

Russian Scientists Create a VR Simulator for Space Photography

The new system trains astronauts to photograph Earth from orbit aboard the International Space Station.

Scientists in Siberia have developed a unique VR simulator designed to help astronauts practice photographing Earth from the International Space Station. The new tool is intended to overcome one of the key challenges of orbital photography: aiming a camera through a small station window.

Just 30 Seconds

Capturing detailed images of Earth from orbit is a demanding task. An astronaut has just 30 seconds to locate a specific target across a vast area, precisely aim the camera, and take the shot, TASS reported, citing Mikhail Lavrentyev, deputy director of the Institute of Automation and Electrometry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and dean of the Faculty of Information Technology at Novosibirsk State University.

“You look with your eyes and see a huge section of the surface, but when you see the same place through a lens with a very long focal length, it looks completely different. To be able to find the target for shooting, a dedicated simulator was created,” Lavrentyev said.

The core of the system is a simulated telephoto lens developed at the Siberian institute, with a microdisplay embedded inside and visible through the camera’s viewfinder. The researchers added metal shot inside the lens to improve its inertial characteristics. Orientation sensors mounted on the lens allow a computer to generate an image on the microdisplay that strictly corresponds to the direction of the camera’s optical axis. As the camera’s viewing direction changes, the image on the microdisplay changes accordingly.

Sensors Track Head Position

In addition, the astronaut wears a special helmet equipped with sensors that help the system determine the position of the head. The image the astronaut sees adjusts based on these movements.

“All of this is calculated in real time, at a rate of 50 frames per second, with all images delivered in a synchronized manner,” Lavrentyev said.

The Institute of Automation and Electrometry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences has been developing virtual reality systems for space training simulators since the 1970s. The new project continues that tradition, underscoring the role of Russian science in digital transformation and in training specialists for high-tech industries.

Science and new technologies