 What looks like a scene out of a science fiction movie is actually real. Scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have manipulated spacecraft data of Venus to give a bird's eye view of its surface. Venus is out there being digitized, but this digital model, this virtual reality of Venus is what's actually being explored on Earth. Dr. Michael McGreevy of NASA's Ames Research Center has taken the idea of being there a few steps further. By strapping on 3D visual display goggles and specially censored gloves, one can be immersed into new worlds. What is unique about virtual reality is that the user has complete control over the environment. Head or body movements translate directly into the way a simulated Martian landscape is seen. In another example, the task is to withdraw a square shape from its slot. The operator's glove can be manipulated to control a robotic arm while sound cues help with depth perception and finding proper fit. Scientists have also designed a virtual wind tunnel. The investigator can move anywhere in the tunnel to study airflow. Virtual reality gives the operator complete choice and is beginning to be used for a variety of commercial applications. What sets NASA apart in this current climate is that we aren't looking at the mainstream applications of this global activity, which tend to be entertainment and video games. We're more looking at how to use this for scientific visualization. In particular, looking at the detailed environments of the planets, looking at computational fluid dynamics models of the airflow over a wing, that sort of thing. Virtual reality is an idea that dates back to the 60s and will be commonplace by the next decade. Already, it has been used during the Gulf War to train tank commanders and soldiers. The American Bobsled team honed their skills for the Olympics with the form of virtual reality. And the Japanese have developed a system that allows architects to walk clients through a virtual building before it's constructed. The dry valleys of Antarctica may soon become a far-reaching outlet for this technology. Scientists have long been interested in the area because it is so similar to Mars. Its frozen lakes contain primitive microbial mats that live in the water below many feet of ice. Researchers at NASA Ames are planning to use a form of virtual reality called telepresence to operate a remote imaging and sampling vehicle to explore this bizarre world. Dr. Carol Stoker leads this effort. With telepresence, we think that we can really expand the range of access to the surface of Mars from a scientific perspective, not just in terms of operating relatively simple robots to do things like construction, but really to do scientific fieldwork. The potential of virtual reality and telepresence in planetary exploration is very promising and earthly applications derived from this research may become products we use every day.