ReHome Earth: A VR-Based Concept Validation for AI-Driven Space Homesickness Interventions

Abstract

Space exploration has advanced rapidly, but the emotional needs of astronauts on long-duration missions remain underexplored. We present ReHome Earth, a dual-component design approach addressing space homesickness: 1) a future-oriented installation concept integrating transparent OLED displays with spaceship windows for real-time Earth connectivity, and 2) a functional VR prototype simulating astronaut isolation for testing AI-generated content effectiveness. Since accessing astronauts during missions is impossible, we conducted concept validation with terrestrial participants experiencing geographic displacement. Through evaluation with 84 proxy participants and 6 HCI experts, we demonstrate strong emotional resonance and validate three design implications: emotional pacing mechanisms, explainable biophysical feedback systems, and evolution from individual tools to collective affective infrastructure. Our contributions include a technically feasible space installation concept, a functional VR prototype for space HCI research, and empirical insights into the design of AI-driven emotional support systems for extreme isolation environments.