X-aRm

Whilst in space, astronauts carry out extravehicular activity. This is often referred to as a 'spacewalk', but it involves risky and difficult work on the outside of the space station. This ESA Discovery programme early technology development project aims to help astronauts train for extravehicular activity by developing an arm exoskeleton with force feedback. Astronauts can wear the exoskeleton arm – or X-aRm – whilst using virtual reality to better perceive the space environment and feel the forces involved in extravehicular activity.

Find out more about how ESA is exploring extended reality for space here.