XCOR Case Study | Agency 39A

Developing a Virtual Reality simulator for Low Earth Orbit space travel

All Capabilities

Overview

XCOR Aerospace was an American private spaceflight and rocket engine development company based at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California, Midland International Air and Spaceport in Midland, Texas, and in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. XCOR was formed in 1999 by former members of the rocket engine development team at Rotary Rocket.

solutions

Brand Strategy

Content Strategy

Digital Marketing

Digital Product Development

Digital Strategy

Front End Development

Project Management

Rapid Prototyping

UI & Visual Design

User Journey Design

UX Design

VR AR Development

Mobile Application Development

Project outcomes

Challenges

XCOR’s Lynx spaceplane planned to be capable of carrying a pilot and a passenger or payload on sub-orbital spaceflights over 100 kilometers (62 mi). Between 20 and 50 test flights of Lynx were planned, along with numerous static engine firings on the ground. A full step-by-step set of taxi tests, runway hops and full-up flights were planned to get the vehicle to a state of operational readiness.

Solutions

Traditional Simulators are expensive, difficult to customize and require the user to travel to a specific, dedicated location. XCOR wanted a simulation that could be easily delivered to the end user, increasing the size of their audience. They envisioned an experience that could simulate the cabin experience and all phases of the flight.

Traditional marketing and corporate overview materials couldn’t convey the wonder and excitement of a simulator. XCOR engaged Agency 39A to develop a virtual reality simulator to engage investors, educators, partners, and potential passengers.

The VR simulator accurately recreated the control of the Lynx spaceplane, pictured above

Agency 39A leveraged design thinking, research, strategic planning, user experience design, product design, and front-end development to reveal opportunities that leveraged emerging technologies including Mixed Reality and Virtual Reality simulators.

A redesigned web experience provided public access to the VR simulator, videos, and educational media

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Results

Our teams conducted design research with the Chief Pilot, XCOR leadership, and end-users, and determined that a Virtual Reality Simulator was the right solution for creating a realistic, portable simulator. We translated the physical Lynx cockpit into a VR-ready 3D asset, creating an accurate mockup of the seating configuration, controls, displays, and canopy.

The VR environment was constructed in Unity and developed for the Oculus headset, and the application was thoroughly tested with our core audience and initial stakeholders.

The Virtual Reality simulator was a successful fundraising and educational tool. It was leveraged to develop new strategic partnerships with universities, individual investors, and strategic partners. Pre-operational missions and events included XCOR Space Expeditions training missions with space simulators and G-Force Fighter Jet flights for ticketholders.

Approximately 282 people pre-purchased tickets for a Lynx ride.

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