Roscosmos XR-2

Roscosmos XR-2
Basic Info
VR/AR	Virtual Reality
Type	Head-mounted display
Subtype	PC VR
Platform	Windows, Astra Linux
Creator	Roscosmos
Price	Discontinued
System
Storage
Display
Display	2 x LCD binocular
Resolution	2880 x 2880 per eye (5760 x 2880 combined)
Image
Optics
Tracking
Tracking	6DoF (laser-based positional tracking)
Eye Tracking	Yes
Audio
Connectivity
Device
Input	6DoF controllers

The Roscosmos XR-2 was a virtual reality head-mounted display developed by Roscosmos, the Russian state corporation for space activities. The headset was announced in 2021 as part of a VR hardware initiative but was ultimately cancelled before reaching commercial release.

History and Development

Background

Roscosmos, primarily known as Russia's space agency, ventured into virtual reality technology development around 2020. The corporation had been utilizing VR technology at the Cosmonaut Training Center as part of their spacecraft simulator training program, which led to the development of consumer-oriented VR hardware.

XR-1 Prototype

In 2020, Roscosmos created two prototype VR helmets codenamed "Roscosmos XR-1." The project was considered successful internally, leading to the decision to develop a second-generation device designated XR-2.

XR-2 Announcement

The Roscosmos XR-2 was publicly revealed in February 2021. In June 2021, the company brought its first prototype to the Startup Village conference in Skolkovo, Russia. The firm planned to develop the headset entirely in Russia and intended to release the device internationally for both consumers and corporate buyers.

Cancellation

The project was ultimately cancelled before the headset could reach commercial production. The specific reasons for cancellation have not been publicly disclosed.

Design and Hardware

Display

The Roscosmos XR-2 featured a dual LCD binocular display configuration with a resolution of 2880 x 2880 pixels per eye, providing a combined resolution of 5760 x 2880 pixels. The display supported refresh rates between 90 Hz and 120 Hz.

Field of View

The headset was designed with an expansive 157-degree diagonal field of view, which would have been among the widest in consumer VR headsets at the time of its planned release.

Tracking System

One of the XR-2's most distinctive features was its laser-based positional tracking system. Unlike conventional inside-out or lighthouse-based tracking, the Roscosmos system utilized lasers to provide an unlimited object position tracking area. The system could track up to 256 objects simultaneously with a reported motion tracking error margin as low as 5mm.

Eye Tracking

The headset included integrated eye-tracking technology, which would have enabled features such as foveated rendering and enhanced interaction methods.

Controllers

The XR-2 was designed to work with 6DoF motion controllers, providing full spatial tracking for hand-based input.

Software and Compatibility

Operating System Support

The Roscosmos XR-2 was designed to be compatible with multiple operating systems:

• Windows 10 (with or without SteamVR)
• Astra Linux (SE) - Russia's certified Linux distribution

The dual-OS compatibility reflected Roscosmos's goal of creating a headset that could operate independently of Western software infrastructure while also supporting mainstream VR platforms.

SteamVR Integration

The headset was planned to support SteamVR, which would have provided access to the extensive library of PC VR content available on the Steam platform.

Applications

Cosmonaut Training

Roscosmos VR hardware was actively used at the Cosmonaut Training Center as part of their spacecraft simulator training program. The XR-2 was expected to enhance these training capabilities with improved visual fidelity and tracking accuracy.

Consumer and Enterprise Markets

The headset was intended for release to both consumer and corporate buyers internationally, suggesting planned applications beyond aerospace training.

Reception

Due to the cancellation of the project before release, no consumer reviews or professional evaluations of the final product exist. The announced specifications, particularly the wide field of view and advanced tracking system, generated interest in the VR community when revealed.

See Also

• Virtual Reality
• Head-mounted display
• PC VR