The advanced optical applications of ITMA have caught the eye of the US space agency.
The Asturias Materials Technological Institute (ITMA) will reproduce the surface of Mars on Earth, using virtual and holographic techniques. This initiative forms part of a NASA project and the results will be used for educational and informational purposes.
The work consists of creating a realistic three-dimensional reproduction of Mars’ surface, with its craters and similar aspects, so that people have the sensation of being on this fourth planet in the solar system. NASA became aware of the technology developed by ITMA thanks to other advanced optical applications, such as the measurement of deformities in satellite mirrors. Further, this center has all of the necessary technology to carry out this recreation project.
For its part, NASA will provide ITMA with mapping information about the surface of the red planet, in order to be able to create a faithful holographic recreation.
Mars forms part of the so-called telluric planets, of a rocky nature like the Earth, and is the interior celestial body farthest from the Sun. In many ways it’s the most similar to the Earth, according to scientists, who in recent months have discovered the existence of filtered water.
The people responsible at the technological institute in Asturias hope that “finally this work ends up in a NASA space museum or something similar”.
La Voz de Asturias