Microsoft's plans to send its new HoloLens technology to space might just have to wait for a while longer as Falcon 9, the spacecraft that was supposed to deliver the cargo to the International Space Station (ISS), suddenly blew up on Sunday several moments after its launch.
According to reports, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket experienced a failure in one of its oxygen tanks, causing the vessel to explode during its liftoff. The spacecraft's cargo, which includes two pairs of Microsoft's augmented reality headsets and more than 4,000 pounds of supplies and equipment, fell back to Earth and burned up in its atmosphere upon reentry.
"We are disappointed in the loss of the latest SpaceX cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station," NASA associate administrator for communications David Weaver said.
"However, the astronauts are safe aboard the station and have sufficient supplies for the next several months. We will work closely with SpaceX to understand what happened, fix the problem and return to flight. The commercial cargo program was designed to accommodate loss of cargo vehicles.
Despite the failure of the Falcon 9 launch, Weaver said they will continue to safely and effectively operate the ISS as part of the space agency's goal to use it as a test bed for future long-range space missions.
Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that it will partner up with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to send its HoloLens to the ISS. The new smart glasses allow applications to incorporate virtual elements with physical real-world elements.
The two pairs of HoloLens headsets that were sent on board the Falcon 9 featured the Sidekick software suite which would have allowed the astronauts on the ISS to use them on their space mission.
The first function of the ISS HoloLens, called Remote Expert Mode, would have allowed NASA's ground operators to look through the eyes of a space station crew member virtually. The second function, called Procedure Mode, would have made it possible for animated sets of instructions to be displayed directly into the field of view of a crew member.
"Microsoft HoloLens is about transforming the ways you create, connect, and explore," Microsoft's technical fellow Alex Kipman said.
"Sidekick is a prime example of an application for which we envisioned HoloLens being used - unlocking new potential for astronauts and giving us all a new perspective on what is possible with holographic computing."
SpaceX has yet to confirm the schedule of its next spaceflight.
