NASA is taking Microsoft's virtual reality gear HoloLens to a different level! On June 28, NASA will launch "Project Sidekick," a program that will unveil the HoloLens goggles to the International Space Station as part of a scheduled resupply mission.

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Who would have thought that one day, a private space company would blast some holographic virtual reality goggles to the International Space Station? Well, that time has finally arrived for a hologram-powered, VR-enabled future of space exploration. All thanks to Microsoft and NASA for its joint effort, which will empower astronauts in space to use a three-dimensional, holographic feature.

Two HoloLens devices, which are the first fully untethered see-through holographic computers that enable high-definition holograms to come to life, will ride a SpaceX rocket to the International Space Station (ISS). Gismodo has learned the station crew will use two modes of operation: remote expert mode and procedure mode. And both modes will basically provide astronauts with better, more communicating guidance when performing tasks in space.

So, why is NASA taking HoloLens for an outer space adventure? According to PC World, HoloLens will be part of a test to determine whether augmented reality and virtual reality devices can assist astronauts in outer space.

"HoloLens and other virtual and mixed reality devices are cutting edge technologies that could help drive future exploration and provide new capabilities to the men and women conducting critical science on the International Space Station," NASA's ISS program director Sam Scimemi said. "This new technology could also empower future explorers requiring greater autonomy on the journey to Mars."

As NASA announced Thursday, the two HoloLens units will be sent to the ISS, which is due to go up on Sunday. Computer World reported the units will be used for a new pilot program, which will provide augmented-reality overlays to educate astronauts how to perform certain procedures on the station.

The program also aims to help astronauts work on the ISS and eventually, with the help of the HoloLens, the need for extensive crew training will be reduced. Moreover, NASA believes astronauts could rely on real-time augmented-reality instructions from the HoloLens to help them perform complex functions, which would make them more efficient in the future.

Meanwhile, "Project Sidekick" isn't the only application NASA has for the device. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory has also built an app called "OnSight," which will allows users to virtually explore the surface of Mars using imagery displayed by the HoloLens.

NASA's vision for the HoloLens technology is indeed ambitious as the space agency would use the holographic goggles to explore Mars. So, can you imagine using HoloLens to explore caves on the moon in search of a future habitat?

TagsNASA, HoloLens, Virtual Reality, outer space