Space Buddy product requirements and build map

This page makes the major product requirements public so contributors can see what the team is trying to build and identify useful work without relying on fixed calendar promises.

Space Buddy is an AI powered interactive universe explorer. It combines a live sky, navigable 3D universe, conversational AI companion, NASA and scientific integrations, personalized memory, community participation, citizen science and immersive XR.

• Accurate live sky based on selected location, date and time.
• Adaptive observer viewpoints from supported celestial bodies.
• Free roam navigation with understandable speed controls.
• Progressive object interaction: hover, single click, deeper AI interaction.
• Object self rotation for 3D inspection.
• Clean visual mode that can hide interface panels.
• Desktop and mobile layouts that keep the universe visible.

Explore the visual experience

• Text and two way audio.
• Grounded explanations with source attribution.
• Conversational navigation and tool routing.
• Guided tours.
• User controlled memory of interests, visits and unfinished work.
• Personalized event and content recommendations.
• Synchronized spoken responses and captions.

AI Companion and Memory

• NASA Eyes adapter using documented embeds and deep links.
• Solar System Treks and selected map layers.
• NASA 3D asset registry.
• JPL Horizons connector.
• NASA Exoplanet Archive TAP/API connector.
• Guided citizen science handoffs.
• Telescope workflows only through documented interfaces or formal partner access.

Integrations Hub

• Optional shared universe focused on education and exploration.
• Source aware space news feed.
• Moderated community posts and astrophotography.
• Astronomical events and community activities.
• Voting and ranking without hiding provenance.
• Reporting, moderation, privacy and age appropriate safety controls before broad public release.

Community, News and Events

• Natural spatial inspection and movement.
• Planet and spacecraft exploration.
• Guided spatial tours.
• Shared source model with desktop and mobile.
• Accessible non XR alternatives for core content.

VR, AR and XR

• Cosmic Graph and provenance.
• Normal astrophysics baselines before anomaly ranking.
• Multimodal astronomy models.
• Evidence ladder and candidate review.
• Source backed research notes and negative results.

Research Hub

Initial work areas include the Space Experience Registry, NASA Eyes routing, sky engine evaluation, live sky prototype, planetary viewpoints, free roam navigation, voice interaction, source cards, exoplanet and Horizons connectors, Trek layers, XR assets, citizen science experiences, accessibility, analytics, community design, events, partner research, content, SEO and AI discovery, public demos and research publications.

Progress is measured by useful outputs and completion signals rather than a fixed timeline.

We are not rebuilding every NASA visualization from scratch. We are not relying on undocumented interfaces as core dependencies. We are not presenting the project as endorsed by NASA. We are not treating an anomaly score as scientific proof. We are not requiring VR to access core educational content.

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