Bringing XR at ESA together

Extended Reality Competence Centre

“ESA has recently launched a dedicated Extended Reality Competence Centre (XR-CC) to serve as a focal point for XR, facilitating knowledge transfer, fostering cross-collaboration, and streamlining development across ESA Member States,” says Nicoletta Wagner, ESA Head of the Future Engineering Division.

ESA XR Plugin

The XR-CC has released the ESA XR Plugin, a flexible tool built with Unreal Engine and OpenXR that simplifies the development of XR applications for space and allows companies and independent developers to build their own components while retaining full commercialisation rights.

This software development kit (SDK) is also available to high school and university students, providing an accessible entry point into developing XR applications for the space domain.

ESA XR Universe

The ESA XR Universe, currently in development, is an initiative that enables multiple users to share and interact within virtual spaces, allowing for more collaborative and immersive experiences.

A pilot version will soon be deployed internally at ESA to support collaborative design reviews, science outcome assessment, and Earth Observation decision-making, before the ESA XR Universe opens up to the general public.

ESA XR Conference

Every two years, the ESA XR Conference brings together professionals and experts working with XR and related technologies in the space sector. Watch a recap video of the 2026 edition.

Experience ESA

A range of XR learning experiences allows users to summon ESA’s planetary defence mission Hera in their own living room, explore space in a virtual museum, experience a spacecraft launch and microgravity, or take on the challenge of protecting Earth from cosmic hazards.