'SpaceVR' is a company with a singular and impressive goal: to offer consumers the opportunity to experience outer space in virtual reality. After a successful Kickstarter campaign and an investment of $1.25 million, the company has announced that it will be sending a camera into space with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in June of 2017.
SpaceVR will be offering the 360-degree VR footage with the use of Overview 1, a "twin-camera cube satellite" that will be able to livestream the images down to earth. Overview 1's video footage will be shot entirely in 4K, giving consumers the opportunity to see Low Earth Orbit in crisp and sharp detail.
Rather than offering the VR space experience through a free platform like YouTube, SpaceVR is planning to host the video feed on their own site, offering consumers paid subscriptions. Considering that SapceVR will have total control over the satellite's movement, that subscription seems well worth it.
Virtual Reality Satellite Cameras
'SpaceVR' Aims to Livestream 360 Degree Footage from Space
Trend Themes
1. 360-degree VR Footage - The use of 360-degree VR footage from Overview 1 will provide consumers with new ways to experience outer space and could lead to new immersive experiences in other industries.
2. Paid Subscriptions for Virtual Reality - SpaceVR's decision to offer the virtual reality space experience through a subscription-based service highlights a disruptive innovation opportunity for companies in the entertainment industry to explore new revenue streams.
3. Satellite Livestreaming - The technology behind livestreaming footage from space through Overview 1 could be used to capture and stream other hard-to-reach locations, leading to opportunities for businesses in the surveillance and security industries.
Industry Implications
1. Entertainment - SpaceVR's subscription-based model for virtual reality experiences could be leveraged by the entertainment industry to monetize similar experiences or create new ones.
2. Aerospace - With the successful launch of Overview 1, SpaceVR has set a precedent for the use of satellite cameras, which could have disruptive innovation opportunities for the aerospace industry in the future.
3. Surveillance and Security - The satellite technology and livestreaming capabilities developed by SpaceVR could be applied in the surveillance and security industries, providing new ways to monitor and protect hard-to-reach locations.