Space Exploration Museum with Virtual Reality

This research paper documents the development and ongoing testing of a Virtual Reality (VR) modern museum experience for people of all ages, especially those who face financial or physical barriers to visiting traditional institutions. This paper is a continuation of the Metaphysical Exhibition project, which aims to provide a cost-effective and easily accessible alternative to physical museums by utilizing VR technology that can be accessed with a one-time purchase of hardware and free software. The virtual museum is portable and can be experienced anywhere. Our focus is on developing a VR museum about space exploration and assessing its impact on users. Through our planned study, we aim to answer three key questions: (i) How does the VR museum experience compare to that of a physical museum? (ii) What is the level of interest and engagement in self-guided VR content for educational purposes, from both students and teachers? (iii) How can the VR museum experience be enhanced to optimize learning outcomes and user satisfaction?