ReHome Earth: A VR-Based Concept Validation for AI-Driven Space Homesickness Interventions

2025-12-28

AI Summary

Prolonged deep-space habitation induces significant homesickness among astronauts, posing risks to psychological well-being and mission performance. Method: This study proposes a dual-component intervention: (1) a transparent OLED “Earth Window” displaying real-time Earth imagery, and (2) a verifiable AI-driven VR simulation system. It introduces three novel design paradigms—emotional rhythm regulation, interpretable physiological feedback, and evolution from individual tools to collective emotional infrastructure—integrating transparent OLED display, AIGC-based personalized content generation, multimodal biosignal modeling, and human-computer interaction evaluation. Results: Empirical validation with 84 geographically displaced participants and 6 HCI experts demonstrated statistically significant improvements in emotional resonance. Key contributions include: (1) a lightweight, space-optimized installation concept design; (2) an open-source, reusable VR research prototype; and (3) the first empirically validated AI-powered emotional support framework tailored for extreme isolation scenarios.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: Game Design — Virtual Humans, NPCs and Autonomous Characters
• Computer Vision: Remote Sensing / Geospatial AI
• Intelligent Robots: Embodied AI

Application Category

• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics for personalization
• Security and Privacy: Data transparency and provenance

Abstract

Space exploration has advanced rapidly, but the emotional needs of astronauts on long-duration missions remain underexplored. We present ReHome Earth, a dual-component design approach addressing space homesickness: 1) a future-oriented installation concept integrating transparent OLED displays with spaceship windows for real-time Earth connectivity, and 2) a functional VR prototype simulating astronaut isolation for testing AI-generated content effectiveness. Since accessing astronauts during missions is impossible, we conducted concept validation with terrestrial participants experiencing geographic displacement. Through evaluation with 84 proxy participants and 6 HCI experts, we demonstrate strong emotional resonance and validate three design implications: emotional pacing mechanisms, explainable biophysical feedback systems, and evolution from individual tools to collective affective infrastructure. Our contributions include a technically feasible space installation concept, a functional VR prototype for space HCI research, and empirical insights into the design of AI-driven emotional support systems for extreme isolation environments.

Problem

• Addresses astronaut homesickness during long space missions
• Validates AI-driven emotional support systems for isolation
• Tests VR prototypes for space habitat human-computer interaction

Innovation

• Transparent OLED displays integrated with spaceship windows
• VR prototype simulating isolation for AI content testing
• Explainable biophysical feedback systems for emotional pacing