Ford in Space?

Car maker Ford has got together with United Space Alliance to take tips from the gaming industries and movement simulation software to make better cars and spaceships. “The automaker and the aerospace company — a lead contractor for the space shuttle — are sharing their experience with animation software to create simulations that benefit astronauts and motorists. In Ford’s case, engineers and designers work in cyberspace to design automobile interiors. United Space Alliance uses the same technology to track launch debris during lift off. Now a new partnership has them working together to customize the software so it can help make quick decisions about maintenance and repairs and decide how best to deal with unexpected events during a mission. ‘Teaming up and sharing ideas with USA for the benefit of our space program is a whole other level of cool,’ said Ford’s Elizabeth Baron, who has the unwieldy title of virtual reality and advanced visualization technical specialist.”