Overview

Space Explorers is an educational VR experience that guides users through the Solar System from the deck of a virtual spacecraft. Designed as a sequential, immersive journey, the project allows visitors to “travel” between planets along a predefined route, learning through presence rather than text-heavy explanations.

Concept & Experience

Inside the spacecraft, users select a route and visit planets one by one. As the ship orbits each planet, a narrated voiceover explains what the planet is, its key characteristics, and notable facts. The experience is intentionally lightweight in interaction, making it accessible to first-time VR users and suitable for public installations.

To conclude the journey on an engaging note, the experience includes a short mini-game where users shoot incoming asteroids before returning home. Session length is configurable, allowing operators to control how many planets are visited depending on time constraints.

The project was developed for use in a planetarium in Malaysia and tailored for educational demos, museums, schools, and interactive events where maintaining attention through immersion is essential.

Key Features

• Guided VR tour of the Solar System from a spacecraft perspective
• Dual-language support
• Configurable session length (number of planets per visit)
• Planets recreated using NASA reference imagery
• Minimal interaction design for VR newcomers
• Asteroid-shooting mini-game as a final interactive segment
• Stable performance with consistent FPS through optimized materials and rendering

Visual & Performance Design

Special attention was given to performance stability and visual comfort. Optimized shaders, carefully tuned materials, and efficient scene setups ensure smooth frame rates without drops, supporting long sessions and comfortable immersion for a wide audience.

Technology Stack

• Engine: Unity
• VR Framework: VR Interaction Framework
• Tools: Amplify Shader Editor, Blender
• Target Platform: Meta Quest 3

Outcome

Space Explorers delivers an accessible and engaging way to explore space in VR, combining guided storytelling, high-quality visuals, and light interactivity. The project demonstrates how immersive environments can effectively communicate educational content by letting users see and hear complex topics-rather than simply read about them.