What’s the story?
XPANCEO has unveiled a space-focused smart contact lens prototype designed to provide astronauts with a hands-free data interface.
Why it matters
The technology is designed to address constraints associated with use in outer space where smart glasses and touchscreens are impractical.
The bigger picture
The development of space-ready prototypes represents a shift toward hands-free ocular interfaces that expand human capability from Earth to orbital environments.
December 17, 2025 – XPANCEO, a developer of smart contact lens technology, has recently unveiled its latest space-focused smart contact lens prototype. The company showcased the integration of the new lens with a spacesuit at UnitedXR in Brussels last week, demonstrating how the technology could be utilized for orbital, lunar, and deep-space missions.
According to XPANCEO, the development addresses specific constraints of working in outer space, where devices such as smart glasses can be hazardous and touchscreens are often impractical for astronauts wearing gloves. The company noted that crew members may even operate tablets with their noses, and rely almost entirely on voice commands when outside their spacecraft.
XPANCEO stated that by delivering visuals directly to the eye, the lens aims to provide a data interface that does not interfere with movement or safety.
The company’s newest prototype incorporates a holographic display and pairs with an image source and power supply located in the space helmet. XPANCEO stated that a similar suit configuration could be adapted for lenses with different optical designs, such as an integrated microdisplay as shown in other prototypes. This concept builds on the company’s previous demonstrations of holographic display lenses used in racing helmets.
Commenting on the announcement, Roman Axelrod, founder of XPANCEO, said: “Humanity is confronting two defining challenges this century — drastically expanding our capabilities and extending healthspan. We’re building smart contact lenses as a new interface for life on Earth — and one that can hold up in orbit, on the Moon, or wherever people decide to go next. These prototypes are an essential step toward that future.”
Founded in 2021 by Axelrod and physicist Valentyn Volkov, XPANCEO is working to integrate augmented reality (AR) interfaces, health monitoring, and biomedical sensing into a single smart contact lens. The company’s technology portfolio also includes a smart contact lens for AR vision, a compact companion device for wireless data and power transfer, and a version with an integrated micro-battery for autonomous operation.
For more information on XPANCEO and its smart contact lens technology, please visit the company’s website.
Image credit: XPANCEO
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Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix, where he has spent years immersed in the XR ecosystem, tracking its evolution from early prototypes to the technologies shaping the future of human experience. While primarily covering the latest AR and VR news, his interests extend to the wider world of human augmentation, from AI and robotics to haptics, wearables, and brain–computer interfaces.