The project.
WelcomE aboard the IXO
IXO stands for the Interplanetary and Interstellar eXploration Observatory. Jump on it to travel through the cosmos.
SpaceTravelVR is a nonprofit organisation (NPO, Association Loi 1901, registered on the government listing in France) aimed at bridging science with the creative arts via new technologies such as smartphone apps, augmented and virtual reality.
We are a team of scientists and creatives with a strong passion for communicating and sharing science. Our mission is to enthuse the public about space exploration by directly engaging through our projects during public engagement events, or by partnering with other science communication associations, and by distributing the contents of the projects freely.
The adventure started when two of the main members met by chance in 2015 and the collision of their worlds of science and storytelling led to the first project, Solar Storm VR, and the creation of an imaginary spacecraft, IXO, that would travel the cosmos. Since then, many colleagues and friends have joined the adventure, sometimes to brainstorm, some other times to lend a hand during outreach events. While further projects were created, SpaceTravelVR was born out of the desire to group all these projects under one umbrella.
These different projects - Solar Storm VR, SolAR Expedition and VR2Sun - have always been created with in mind the possibility to share them with the maximum of people around the world. Hence, while we do organise exhibitions and travel to festivals, these projects also have a life of their own as they can be downloaded freely or purchased.
We hope you will enjoy them and look forward to providing you with more content in the future!
We are a team of scientists and creatives with a strong passion for communicating and sharing science. Our mission is to enthuse the public about space exploration by directly engaging through our projects during public engagement events, or by partnering with other science communication associations, and by distributing the contents of the projects freely.
The adventure started when two of the main members met by chance in 2015 and the collision of their worlds of science and storytelling led to the first project, Solar Storm VR, and the creation of an imaginary spacecraft, IXO, that would travel the cosmos. Since then, many colleagues and friends have joined the adventure, sometimes to brainstorm, some other times to lend a hand during outreach events. While further projects were created, SpaceTravelVR was born out of the desire to group all these projects under one umbrella.
These different projects - Solar Storm VR, SolAR Expedition and VR2Sun - have always been created with in mind the possibility to share them with the maximum of people around the world. Hence, while we do organise exhibitions and travel to festivals, these projects also have a life of their own as they can be downloaded freely or purchased.
We hope you will enjoy them and look forward to providing you with more content in the future!
- The Team
The people.
Miho Janvier
Miho Janvier leads the projects for Space Travel VR while working as a space physicist at the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale, France. She is currently seconded as a solar physicist at the European Space Agency to work on the Solar Orbiter mission. Her work focuses on the understanding of when solar flares occur, how solar storms travel in space and how they impact planetary environments in the solar system. Her passion for astrophysics and science communication has led her to develop SpaceTravelVR. She was named WIRED UK Innovation fellow in 2016 and is a TED Fellow. |
Tom Saville
Tom graduated from the Arts Institute at Bournemouth, UK, in 2008 with a BA in Film and Animation, and while gaining experience under the wing of Leigh Took at Mattes and Miniatures Pinewood, helped to complete the visual effects for Small Town Folk for director Peter Stanley-Ward and producer Chris Musselwhite. The group of filmmakers became Treehouse Digital, and has served as editor and visual effects designer on many of the projects under the Treehouse banner. Tom’s interest in visual arts and technology came to a head in 2015, with the development of Solar Storm. |
SpECIAL THANKS
SpaceTravelVR thanks the many contributors to the projects:
Solar Storm VR:
SolAR Experience:
VR2Sun, the Solar Orbiter Virtual Experience:
Throughout the project:
Solar Storm VR:
- Dale Sumner for the music on Solar Storm VR
- Justin Dorey for the English voice over
- Ayana Fuentes for the French voice over
SolAR Experience:
- Jean-Charles Fedini, Main Developer 1
- Pierre Gaboriaud, Main Developer 2
- Frédéric Baudin, for funding liaison
- Eric Buchlin, for funding liaison
- Frédéric Auchère, for providing the Carrington maps
VR2Sun, the Solar Orbiter Virtual Experience:
- IAS Solar and Stellar team, for science checks
- Isabelle Fratter and Desi Raulin, Solar Orbiter Project Scientists at CNES
- The CNES and ESA teams for financial support
Throughout the project:
- Xavier Maître and le SAS for the exhibition support
- Kader Amsif, CNES for funding
- Clément Walter, Florian Regnault and Nathan Benzazon who worked as part of their "Mission doctorale" on all the projects.
