Mixed Reality Visualization of Rocket Launch Weather Criteria

Several criterion for atmospheric conditions must be met in order to proceed with a countdown and rocket launch sequence. A collaborative, mixed reality (VR/MR) research system being developed within the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Texas A&M University aims to augment the launch process with a three-dimensional, spatial display of atmospheric features like wind shear, lightning proximity and cloud thickness. Photogrammetric techniques will be applied in near real-time to directly highlight and track potential threats to favorable launch conditions, while near real-time rocket guidance, navigation and control (GNC) data is displayed with field instrument data in the same mobile, virtual environment viewable to multiple users.