A method and system for exploring a remote environment from an environment simulator at a local base is disclosed. The system includes: at least one proxy robot in the remote environment with at least one near-field and at least one high resolution 360-degree far field video camera; at least one additional device at the remote environment to capture images and data; a transmitter at the remote environment to transmit the video and data to the local base; a terrain analysis computer at the local base to receive and process the video and data to generate a 360-degree approximated real time (ART) video field representing a terrain surrounding the at least one proxy robot; a display in the environment simulator to display the ART video field for at least one user; a full body motion capture suit marked to the dimensions of the at least one user; and a plurality of motion capture video cameras to capture each position change in the motion capture suit, wherein activities performed virtually in the environment simu
