ANA Holdings has announced it has partnered the JAXA - Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Chofu) in the launch of its AVATAR X project.

According to a press release, AVATAR X is a multi-phased program that aims to capitalize on the growing space-based economy by accelerating development of real-world Avatars, essentially a robot controlled by a human that will enable a person to see, hear, feel and interact freely in a remote environment in real-time. The Avatars will enable humans to remotely build camps on the Moon, support long-term space missions and further explore space from afar.

Some of the new business fields that AVATAR X aims to unlock, using real-world Avatars, include:

  • Remote construction in space, including the lunar surface and Mars;
  • Operation and maintenance of space stations and facilities from Earth;
  • Space-based entertainment and travel for the general public.

The first phase of AVATAR X will start this year with the establishment of the AVATAR X consortium; an official forum to discuss and map out a roadmap for the AVATAR X program itself. The consortium is open to companies and organizations from all sectors that are interested in jointly pioneering this new space initiative.

The second phase consists of the construction of the "AVATAR X Lab@OITA" in Japan's southern prefecture of Oita. The facility will be the world's first dedicated Avatar space test field. Key telecommunication and research infrastructure will be installed at the facility to enable the testing of Avatars in space scenarios as defined by the AVATAR X consortium.

Planned for the early 2020s, the third phase of AVATAR X will see technologies developed at the AVATAR X Lab@OITA transported into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for testing in space. Once the capabilities of these new technologies are confirmed in outer space, the fourth phase will begin. This phase involves the deployment of AVATAR X technology to begin building and further exploring the Moon, Mars and beyond.

"ANA is driven by a bold and inspiring vision of the future of flight and this boldness doesn't stop on our planet," Shinya Katanozaka, President and CEO of ANA HD, said. "Through innovative partnerships, like AVATAR X, we are excited about the possibilities of what we can accomplish and where we can go when the private and public sectors join forces."

Other members of the AVATAR X consortium include NTT Docomo, Apptronik, Gitai, SoftBank, Takenaka, Canaria, and HIS Travel among others.