Rosetta VR

Rosetta VR is an immersive 3D virtual reality application which can be used with Google Cardboard (or compatible device) and your mobile phone to view 3D models of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko and of the European Space Agency’s Rosetta probe and Philae lander.

Once you have started the application slide your phone into the Google Cardboard device, and then hold it up to your eyes and you will see the model of the comet hanging in space in front of you. By staring and/or clicking at the controls you can then set the comet rotating in any direction, and at several speeds, in order to gain an overview of its shape or to pan round to a particular location. You can then zoom the view in or out, and optionally bring up a marker to show the suspected location of the Philae lander. Two models of the comet are provided, the official ESA shape model, and a textured model developed by Mattias Malmer (used with permission).

As well as looking the comet you can also view detailed models of the Rosetta probe and Philae lander. The probe can be animated in order to watch its solar panels unfurl. As with the comet you can rotate and zoom the models, and “drag” your view by using the phone to sense your looking around the object. The app also provides links to the ESA Rosetta web site, and to the Daden website and Daden Campus – an immersive 3D environment accessible from a PC/laptop web browser or as a download, which has a further model of comet 67P that you can walk around.

You will need to have a Google Cardboard compatible headset in order to make sensible use of the application.